Support the aged without reference to religion; respect the learned without reference to age.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Intolerance respecting other people’s religion is toleration itself in comparison with intolerance respecting other people’s art.
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) American Poet
No human trait deserves less tolerance in everyday life, and gets less, than intolerance.
—Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837) Italian Poet, Essayist, Philosopher
The greatest and noblest pleasure which men can have in this world is to discover new truths; and the next is to shake off old prejudices.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) Prussian Monarch
I think we have to own the fears that we have of each other, and then, in some practical way, some daily way, figure out how to see people differently than the way we were brought up to.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
Minds are like parachutes — they only function when open.
—Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar (1864–1930) Scottish Businessperson
Before me, said the Lord, “there is no difference between Jew and Gentile; he that accomplishes good, will I reward accordingly”.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
You’ve got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
Of people whose skin is a different shade.
You’ve got to be carefully taught.
—Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960) American Songwriter, Composer, Theater Producer, Writer
Through the centuries, the history of peoples is but a lesson in mutual tolerance.
—Emile Zola (1840–1902) French Novelist
Toleration is the best religion.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own.
—Chinese Proverb
Those wearing tolerance for a label call other views intolerable.
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–78) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer of Children’s Books
Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
The virtuous of all nations participate in eternal bliss.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Cultivate your own capabilities, your own style. Appreciate the members of your family for who they are, even though their outlook or style may be miles different from yours. Rabbits don’t fly. Eagles don’t swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels don’t have feathers. Stop comparing. There’s plenty of room in the forest.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
We need to promote greater tolerance and understanding among the peoples of the world. Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity.
—Kofi Annan (1938–2018) Ghanaian Statesman, International Diplomat
I do not like the word tolerance, but could not think of a better one. Tolerance implies a gratuitous assumption of the inferiority of other faiths to one.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Intolerance is evidence of impotence.
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) English Occultist, Mystic, Magician
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
People are very open-minded about new things — as long as they’re exactly like the old ones.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Your neighbor’s vision is as true for him as your own vision is true for you.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
One need only grow old to become gentler in one’s judgments. I see no fault committed which I could not have committed myself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Do you want a sign that you’re asleep? Here it is: you’re suffering. Suffering is a sign that you’re out of touch with the truth. Suffering is given to you that you might open your eyes to the truth, that you might understand that there’s falsehood somewhere, just as physical pain is given to you so you will understand that there is disease or illness somewhere. Suffering occurs when you clash with reality. When your illusions clash with reality, when your falsehoods clash with truth, then you have suffering. Otherwise there is no suffering.
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian
The highest result of education is tolerance. Long ago men fought and died for their faith; but it took ages to teach them the other kind of courage, — the courage to recognize the faiths of their brethren and their rights of conscience. Tolerance is the first principal of community; it is the spirit which conserves the best that all men think.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Hypocrisy, the lie, is the true sister of evil, intolerance, and cruelty.
—Raisa Gorbacheva (1932–99) Russian Activist
The Lord who proclaimed the Law of Sinai is the God of all nations.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith