How we Hurt Others

In his poem Cocktail Party, T. S. Eliot captures a fundamental truth about human nature and the source of much hurt in the world. People’s actions are rarely driven by outright malice—intended to harm others—but rather by their own inner struggles, particularly self-importance, which can lead to deep and unintended wounds. Where Eliot may fall short is in suggesting that people simply don’t care. More often, I would argue, they are simply unaware.