"The axial sages were not interested in providing their disciples with a little edifying uplift after which they could return with renewed vigor to their self-centered lives. Their objective was to create an entirely different kind of human being. Sages insisted that people abandon their egotism and greed, their violence and unkindness. Not only was it wrong to kill another human being, we must not even speak a hostile word about or towards that person, not even make an irritable gesture. Further, we cannot confine our benevolence to our own people. Our concern must somehow extend to the entire world. If people behave with kindness and generosity to others we could save the world."
Karen Armstrong