The obvious choice, then, is to extend our notions of self-interest. For example, it would not occur to me to plead with you, “Don’t saw off your leg… - Joanna Macy

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The obvious choice, then, is to extend our notions of self-interest. For example, it would not occur to me to plead with you, “Don’t saw off your leg. That would be an act of violence.” It wouldn’t occur to me (or to you) because your leg is part of your body. Well, so are the trees in the Amazon rain basin. They are our external lungs. We are beginning to realize that the world is our body.

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About Joanna Macy

Joanna Rogers Macy (born May 2, 1929) is an environmental activist, author, scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology.

Biography information from Wikiquote

Also Known As

Birth Name: Mary Joanne Rogers
Alternative Names: Joanna Rogers Macy
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Additional quotes by Joanna Macy

Grace happens when we act with others on behalf of our world.

It is no longer appropriate to think only in terms of even my nation or my country, let alone my village. If we are to overcome the problems we face, we need what I have called a sense of universal responsibility rooted in love and kindness for our human brothers and sisters. In our present state of affairs, the very survival of humankind depends on people developing concern for the whole of humanity, not just their own community or nation. The reality of our situation impels us to act and think more clearly. Narrow-mindedness and self-centered thinking may have served us well in the past, but today will only lead to disaster. We can overcome such attitudes through the combination of education and training.

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