"A human being is part of the whole,
called by us 'Universe',
a part limited in time and space.
He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings,
as something separate from the rest --
a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for us,
restricting us to our personal desires
and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.
Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison
by widening our circle of compassion,
to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
Nobody is able to achieve this completely,
but the striving for such achievement
is in itself a part of the liberation
and a foundation for inner security."

                        - A. Einstein