That reminds me of a Pratchett quote, an exchange between a respected local witch and a visiting priest:
> "[...] And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
> "It's a lot more complicated than that--"
> "No. It ain't. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they're getting worried that they won't like the truth. People as things, that's where it starts."
> "Oh, I'm sure there are worse crimes--"
> "But they starts with thinking about people as things..."
> "[...] And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
> "It's a lot more complicated than that--"
> "No. It ain't. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they're getting worried that they won't like the truth. People as things, that's where it starts."
> "Oh, I'm sure there are worse crimes--"
> "But they starts with thinking about people as things..."
-- Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchett