I can do no other than be reverent before everything that is called life. I can do no other than to have compassion for all that is called life. That is the beginning and the foundation of all ethics.
This quote embodies the deep respect and compassion that underpin a genuine ethical worldview. It emphasizes that reverence for life is fundamental to moral behavior, urging us to treat all living beings with kindness and respect. Recognizing the interconnectedness of life encourages humility, empathy, and responsibility in our actions. By grounding ethics in compassion, it directs us towards more caring and mindful interactions with the world around us—reminding us that ethics are rooted in our capacity for reverence and love for all forms of life.