History Goes Green

Vegetarians used to be called Pythagoreans, since forsaking meat was part of the lifestyle for the group of mathematical thinkers that Pythagoras led. The group followed many strict beliefs, but vegetarianism was their signature.

Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

In a letter to Giuliano de Medici, Andrea Corsali wrote”Certain infidels called Guzzarati [Hindus] do not feed upon anything that contains blood, nor do they permit among them any injury be done to any living thing, like our Leonardo da Vinci.”

Medici was a patron of Leonardo. It is said that Da Vinci loved animals very much and that he was known to have purchased caged birds in the marketplace, only to set them free.

 However, there is a quote improperly attributed to Leonardo about vegetarianism. It’s source was a novel written by Dimitri Merejkowski called The Romance of Leonardo Da Vinci. In this fictional account, Da Vinci says “I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.”

The quote wasn’t really Da Vinci’s, but the Corsali letter lets us know that Da Vinci was known to avoid meat.

Charles Darwin 1809-1882

“Even in the worm that crawls in the earth there glows a divine spark. When you slaughter a creature, you slaughter God. ” The Descent of Man

Darwin made many quotes concerning vegetarianism- he apparently believed that man was not meant to eat meat. As with many historical figures however, it isn’t definitely clear that he ever quit meat entirely.

Albert Einstein- 1879 – 1955 

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for  of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”

Einstein had long been an advocate of vegetarianism, but there is no evidence that he became one until close to his death, when his health had become an issue. In a letter to Hermann Huth, dated December 27, 1930, Einstein said:

“Although I have been prevented by outward circumstances from observing a strictly vegetarian diet, I have long been an adherent to the cause in principle. Besides agreeing with the aims of vegetarianism for aesthetic and moral reasons, it is my view that a vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind.”

In a letter dated March 20, 1954, Einstein wrote:

“So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore.”

Leo Tolstoy- 1828 – 1910 

The Russian author of War & Peace and Anna Karenina tells his own story best:

“Not long ago I had a talk with a retired soldier and he was surprised at my assertion that it was a pity to kill animals for food, and said the usual things about its being ordained. But afterwards he agreed with me: ‘Especially when they are quiet, tame cattle. They come, poor things trusting You. It is very pitiful.’

“Such a situation, is dreadful. Not the suffering and death of the animals, but that man suppresses in himself unnecessarily, the highest spiritual capacity – that of sympathy and pity towards living creatures – and by violating his own feelings, becomes cruel. And how deeply seated in the human heart is the injunction not to take life. But by the assertion that God ordained the slaughter of animals, and above all as a result of habit, people entirely lose their natural feeling.

“Some time ago I decided to visit the slaughter-house at Tula, and meeting a meek, kind acquaintance of mine, I invited him to accompany rue. My friend refused; he could not, he told met bear to witness the slaughter of animals. It is worth remarking that this man is a sportsman and himself kills animals and birds ….

John Coltrane

“The wrongfulness, the immorality of eating animal food has been recognized by all mankind during all the conscious life of humanity. Why, then have people generally not come to acknowledge this law? The answer is that the moral progress of humanity is always slow; but that the sign of true, not casual Progress, is in uninterruptedness and its continual acceleration. And one cannot doubt that vegetarianism has been progressing in this manner.”

John Coltrane 1926-1967

Coltrane was a deeply spiritual man, who became very disciplined in his lifestyle. This was amazing as the jazz culture of the mid-twentieth century was one of over-indulgence. Everything was reefer and champagne, whiskey and cocaine.

When he gave up smoking, drinking and getting high. He considered himself a believer int he Christian faith, but he was also a student of Hinduism, Islam, yoga, astrology, science and philosophy.

One account notes that Coltrane had raw eggs and tomato juice for breakfast and enjoyed a dinner of “… two raw egg yolks, clear soup, milk, iced water and fresh peaches.” (Porter, p. 254)

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