Not to mention the incalculable economic value of pluralism, strengthened by a decentralized pattern of redistribution. In addition, a concrete donor is much better equipped to discern the structure of public needs in an area of his or her specific interest than this can ever be done by even the best civil servant at some ministry. Human beings are not only manufacturers, profit-makers or consumers. A human being is intrinsically disposed not to be indifferent towards fellow humans and towards society. People desire to be appreciated for that which they give to the environment around them.
Humanity constitutes a subject of conscience, of moral order, of love for our fellow humans.
Civil society is one of the ways in which our human nature can be exercised in its entirety, including its more subtle elements, which are more difficult to grasp, but are perhaps the most important of all. Civil society, at least as I see it, is simply one of the great opportunities for human responsibility for the world. I certainly do not need to stress how important it is in today's world, which is endangered by so many different threats, that we cultivate opportunities of this kind. I am certainly not against patriotism. We should love our country at least as much as we love our family, our village or town, our profession, as well as the planet on which we are destined to live and on which we have, among other things, the country that is our home.