“Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor”
— Thomas Jefferson
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Simplified Meaning:
Humans are unique because sometimes they harm each other for their own gain. Unlike other animals that typically only hurt other species for food or defense, people often take advantage of one another, especially the rich taking from the poor. Think of how wealthy business owners might pay their workers very little while making huge profits themselves. This isn't about physical harm but about creating conditions where the rich benefit at the expense of the poor. For example, a large company might pay its workers a low wage while the CEO earns millions, making life harder for the employees. This quote suggests that humans need to be more aware of how their actions impact others and strive to create a fairer society.
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Class inequality Economic inequality Exploitation Human behavior Human nature Moral philosophy Power dynamics Social critique Social justice Wealth disparityFEATURED QUOTES
