CREATED BY: Luke the Evangelist
FIRST APPEARANCE: The New Testament, Gospel of Luke, probably 1st century
AREAS OF INFLUENCE: In perhaps the best known biblical parable, a traveller from Samaria takes pity on a man who has been attacked, giving him food and drink and a ride to an inn. Any person, even a stranger or an enemy, is worthy of love, says the parable; it’s good to be like the Samaritan, says popular culture. The tale has inspired great works of art and an episode of Seinfeld and legal protections for helpful strangers—and, most importantly, has inspired countless individuals to be kind to those in need.
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