I consider nothing human to be alien to me

In everyday life, I like to use the more concise version, and occasionally call the saying out to peculiar behaviors or people apologizing for their behavior.

Montaigne is said to have given the saying a place of honor in his writings.

This final sentence leads us to a second major humanistic idea. The meaning of our life lies in our relationships and bonds with other people. This principle of connectedness was succinctly formulated in a comedy by Publius Terentius Afer, known as Terence. His surname Afer ('the African') refers to his origin—he was presumably born around 190 BC as a slave in or near the North African Carthage. He later became famous in Rome as a comic playwright. One of his characters says—and I will reproduce the Latin text since it is still often quoted in the original today.

Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto.

The full sentence then reads: 'I am a human being; I consider nothing human alien to me'.

1. Universal Human Experiences

The saying reminds us that all people—regardless of culture, origin, or lifestyle—share fundamental emotions, needs, and experiences. Joy, sorrow, love, fear—these feelings are universally human.

2. Understanding Human Weaknesses

If we understand that all people make mistakes, have weaknesses, and sometimes make questionable decisions, we can develop more compassion and less prejudice. The realization 'Nothing human is alien to me' helps us be less judgmental.

3. Intercultural Perspective

In the context of different cultures and rituals, this thought allows us not to dismiss foreign practices as 'exotic' or 'primitive', but to understand and respect them as other expressions of humanity.

4. Psychological Dimension

The saying invites us to accept even the darker sides of human nature. Instead of distancing ourselves from human abysses, we acknowledge that every human is capable of both good and evil.

5. Humanistic Perspective

As a humanistic principle, the saying emphasizes the fundamental connectedness of all people. It calls on us to bridge differences and recognize what we have in common in our humanity.

I first learned about the saying 'Nothing human is alien to me' in the book 'How to be a Human'. Sarah Bakewell authored the time travel through humanism. I also took the second paragraph from her. Thank you very much.