It is an insult to a starving people to offer them religion; it is an insult to a starving man to teach him metaphysics.
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Volume 1, Addresses at The Parliament of Religions, "Religion not the Crying need of India" (15 May 2010)Swami Vivekananda
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The most bitter insult one can offer to a Londoner is "bastard" — which, taken for what it means, is hardly an insult at all.
George Orwell
They are irreverent to the gods and disobedient to our edicts, lenient as they are. For we allow none of them to be dragged to the altars unwillingly... It is therefore my pleasure to announce and publish to all the people by this edict, that they must not abet the seditions of the clergy ... They may hold their meetings, if they wish, and offer prayers according to their established use ... and for the future, let all people live in harmony ... Men should be taught and won over by reason, not by blows, insults, and corporal punishments. I therefore most earnestly admonish the adherents of the true religion not to injure or insult the Galilaeans in any way ... Those who are in the wrong in matters of supreme importance are objects of pity rather than of hate ...
Julian (Emperor)
Inspired by the teachings of Smohalla, Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé in Idaho rebelled in 1877. Before he was trapped only thirty miles short of refuge in Canada, he had consistently outwitted and outfought a superior United States Army... although he forbade his warriors to scalp or to torture, the Whites massacred his women and children. Finally, with most of his warriors dead, his people starving, freezing, and maimed, Chief Joseph walked toward the White generals, handed his rifle to them, and said: "I am tired of fighting ... My people ask me for food, and I have none to give. It is cold, and we have no blankets, no wood. My people are starving to death. Where is my little daughter? I do not know ... Hear me, my chiefs. I have fought; but from where the sun now stands, Joseph will fight no more forever."
Peter Farb
"To every insult we receive we will offer a proposal, to every defamatory remark, an idea, and to every exaggeration, a smile."
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
The people are starving. They need food; they need medicine; they need education. They do not need a skyscraper to house the ruling party and a 24-hour TV station.
Wangari Maathai
Vivekananda, Swami
Vivien, Renee
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