Drawing from his knowledge of the Torah, Fromm pointed to the story of Jonah, who did not wish to save the residents of Nineveh from the consequences of their sin, as demonstrative of his belief that the qualities of care and responsibility are generally absent from most human relationships.
Oslanjajući se na svoje znanje o Talmudu, Fromm je isticao priču o Jonahu, koji nije htio da spasi građane Nineveha od konsekvenci njihovih grijeha, kao demonstraciju njegovog vjerovanja da su vrijednosti brige i odgovornosti uglavnom odsutne u većini ljudskih veza.