“La vida de un cordero no es menos preciosa que la de un ser humano. Me encuentro mal dispuesto a quitarle la vida a un cordero para sustentar el cuerpo humano. Afirmo que cuanto más desvalida es una criatura, tanto más debe ser protegida por el hombre de la crueldad del hombre.”
Share this quote
Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Spanish translation of Gandhi's autobiography lamb passage (same as rank 1025): An Autobiography, ch. 'A Month with Gokhale - II' (1927); listed under the Spanish source 'Mi religion'.
About this quote
The weaker a creature, the stronger the claim it has on our protection — that's the logic here. Power over something defenseless reads not as permission to use it but as an obligation to shield it, especially from the very people strong enough to do it real harm.
When to use it
- A vet tech stays late to hand-feed an orphaned animal nobody else will bother with.
- A teacher keeps her closest watch on the smallest, quietest kid in a rowdy class.
- A nurse advocates loudest for the patient too frail to speak up for himself.