Feb 20, 2014

the nature of sympathy

"Nature, in giving men tears, bears witness that she gave the human race the softest hearts...
Reason is what engenders egocentrism, and reflection strengthens is. Reason is what turns man in upon himself. Reason is what separates him from all that troubles him and afflicts him. Philosophy is what isolates him and what moves him to say in secret, at the sight of a suffering man, "Perish if you will; I am safe and sound."

Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (Part 1)

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