Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. The roots of cruelty, therefore, are not so much strong as widespread. But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come.

Summary

This quote highlights the notion that most instances of cruelty exhibited by people stem not from an inherent cruel instinct, but rather from thoughtlessness or the perpetuation of inherited habits. It suggests that the roots of cruelty are not deeply embedded but rather widespread within society. However, it optimistically asserts that a time will come when the inhumane treatment protected by thoughtlessness and cultural norms will be overcome by compassionate thoughts and actions. The quote encourages individuals to actively strive towards that future, urging everyone to work towards a time of greater empathy and humanity.

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