Quote by Henry David Thoreau
What men call social virtues, good fellowship, is commonly but the virtue of pigs in a litter, which lie close together to keep each other warm.
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Summary
This quote suggests that what society often labels as social virtues or good fellowship is merely a selfish act disguised as virtue. It compares the behavior of people coming together for social reasons to that of a litter of pigs who huddle together purely for warmth. In other words, the quote implies that many social interactions are driven by self-interest and personal gain rather than genuine benevolence or virtue.