Why is the phrase as popular as it is?
On another note, I also don’t quite understand what it means or implies. When someone doesn’t have faith in humanity, what does that mean?
Also, what is the humanity in the phrase? Do they mean all 8 billion people? Or is humanity understood here as something metaphysical?
I don’t know about its origin, but as far as I understand people using the phrase, I think they just mean the potential for someone to do good regardless of the circumstances or consequences.
Faith in the character of every human to do good and achieve things.
Not metaphysical.
If you don’t have faith in humanity, it means you are cynical and you expect humans to take advantage of situations and act selfishly.