Can anyone please give me information on the quote an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind?

Question

Can anyone please give me information on the quote an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind?

Answer 1

This quote is from Gandhi, who, like many people, did not understand the concept of "an eye for an eye."

Many people, Gandhi included believed that "an eye for an eye" has to do with seeking revenge...if you poke my eye out, I'll poke yours out.  If you kill  my friend, I will kill your friend.

In reality, this commandment from Jewish law means something very different.  If is actually forbidding what we in our society call "cruel and unusual punishment."  If you poke my eye out, I have the right to seek damages in court related to the use of my eye....if I have a job that requires the use of both eyes, you need to make monetary restitution equal to the living I would have made otherwise.  I do NOT have the right to kill you.

If you kill my friend, I have the right to seek justice for my friend by having a court of law try you, find you guilty and assign an appropriate punishment.  I do not have the right to murder for revenge.

It is most unfortunate that an intelligent man like Gandhi did not do his homework.

I've linked you to a website that explains this law more fully.

All the best.

Answer 2

"an eye for an eye" is retaliation equal to the crime...   .

at some point someone has to not need the satisfaction of striking back  ...  or ...   by the time everyone is done poking and poking back, there won't be anyone left with any eyes to see

Answer 3

if everyone was to "get even" (eye for an eye), then the human race would be ignorant in other words, blind.... makes sense  in my humble opinion :)