"Humanidad, nunca la tuviste para empezar."

The essence of the quote is pretty bleak, isn't it? It's saying that humanity, with all its connotations of kindness, empathy, and genuine goodness, was never really a part of our makeup. Harsh words, but let's unpack it a bit.

Think about it. This idea suggests that the virtues we associate with being human—compassion, altruism, integrity—might just be illusions or aspirations rather than intrinsic qualities. It's like saying we’re inherently flawed or lacking, and any acts of kindness or empathy are exceptions rather than the rule. It challenges the notion that humans are naturally good and raises some tough questions about our true nature.

Historically, this kind of sentiment could have come up in response to some bleak moments in human history—like during wars, genocides, or when witnessing systemic injustices. These are times when the darker sides of humanity seem to overshadow the light. Maybe someone looked at the horrors of the Holocaust, the brutality of slavery, or the countless conflicts and thought, how can we claim to be humane when we’re capable of such cruelty?

Now, let's make this real with a story. Picture this: a woman named Sarah lives in a bustling city. Every day, she passes by a homeless man on her way to work. Like most people, she’s busy—head down, earbuds in, rushing to catch the train. But one day, she pauses. She buys him coffee and a sandwich, sits down, and listens to his story. Turns out, he’s a veteran who lost everything after returning from war. For that brief moment, Sarah is the embodiment of humanity. But the next day, she’s back to her routine, and the man is back to being invisible to the masses.

This scenario is a simple yet powerful illustration. Acts of kindness happen, but they’re not the norm. The overwhelming majority walk by, consumed by their own lives. It brings that quote into sharp focus—humanity is sporadic and not as prevalent as we might like to believe.

So, how do you apply this grim wisdom? Start by recognizing your own moments of inhumanity. We all have them. The times we ignore someone in need, make snap judgments, or act selfishly. Instead of beating yourself up, use these moments as a reminder to consciously choose empathy and kindness.

Imagine you're in a meeting and a colleague gets unfairly criticized. Your first instinct might be to stay quiet—don’t rock the boat, right? But what if you spoke up, offered support, and showed solidarity? Small acts can ripple out and challenge the darker view of our nature.

Here's another scenario: a student named Alex is new to school, sitting alone at lunch. It’s easier to ignore him, stay with your group, right? But if you remember that quote, you might see it as a call to action. You sit with him, learn about his interests, maybe even become friends. Suddenly, you’re part of the solution, not the problem.

So, what's the takeaway over our metaphorical coffee? It's a call for a conscious effort to cultivate and act on empathy. It’s about proving that while we may not have had humanity from the get-go, we can strive to build it through our everyday actions. Because, in the end, every small act of kindness challenges that bleak notion and makes a case for a more humane world.