The martyr sacrifices themselves entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for they make the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower.

Summary

This quote suggests that martyrs, individuals who selflessly give up their lives or wellbeing for a cause, ultimately do not achieve their intended purpose. Instead, their actions have a negative effect, as it only reinforces the selfishness, laziness, and narrow-mindedness of those around them. In other words, the sacrifice of martyrs serves to exacerbate negative traits rather than inspire empathy and change in others.

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