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The economic system denies the right of the sincerest and most sympathetic to keep their hands out of the blood of their brothers. We may not go to our rest at night, or waken to our work in the morning, without bearing the burden of the communal guilt; without being ourselves creators and causes of the wrongs we seek to bear away. At every step, when we would do good, evil is present with us, and exacts its tribute from the very citadel of the soul.

— George D. Herron Between Caesar and Jesus (1899)

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More quotes by George D. Herron

It is only the densest ethical ignorance that talks about a "Christian business" life; for business is now intrinsically evil.

Between Caesar and Jesus (1899)

Civilization no longer represents the conscience of the individuals who must find therein their work. The facts and forces which now organize industry and so-called justice, violate the best instincts of mankind.

Between Caesar and Jesus (1899)

All that is good in civilization must be for the equal use of all, in order that each man may make his life most worthwhile to the common life and to himself.

Between Caesar and Jesus (1899)

Whoever says that a man can live the Christian life, while at the same time successfully participating in the present order of things, is either profound in the lack of knowledge, or else he deliberately lies.

Between Caesar and Jesus (1899)

The hope of the social reformer is to open wide the gates of opportunity, so that every creature, from the least to the greatest, may make his life a moral adventure and a joy, and exhaust his possibilities in the thing he can best do.

Between Caesar and Jesus (1899)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: George D. Herron (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.