Wealth and want equally harden the human heart, like frost and fire both are alien to human flesh

Wealth and want equally harden the human heart, like frost and fire both are alien to human flesh

Theodore Parker, a prominent American Transcendentalist and abolitionist, believed in the inherent goodness of humanity and the importance of compassion and empathy towards others. In his teachings and writings, Parker often emphasized the detrimental effects of wealth and want on the human heart, likening them to frost and fire, both of which are alien to human flesh.

Parker understood that wealth and want have the power to harden the human heart, leading individuals to become selfish, greedy, and indifferent to the suffering of others. He believed that the pursuit of wealth can corrupt the soul, causing individuals to prioritize material possessions over human relationships and moral values. Similarly, the experience of want and poverty can also harden the heart, as individuals may become bitter, resentful, and desperate in their struggle to survive.

Parker saw wealth and want as two sides of the same coin, both of which can distance individuals from their true humanity and disconnect them from the interconnectedness of all life. He believed that true fulfillment and happiness come from cultivating a sense of compassion, generosity, and empathy towards others, rather than from the accumulation of material wealth or the avoidance of poverty.