I can suspend judgment on those who kill–but I think they…
““I can suspend judgment on those who kill–but I think they are evil for the community; they bring in nothing except hate, and take from it all they can. I am willing to believe that they are made that way, that they are born with a disability, for which, perhaps, one should pity them; but even then, I think, not spare them–because you cannot spare them any more than you could spare the man who staggers out from a plague-stricken village in the Middle Ages to mix with innocent and healthy children in a nearby village. The innocent must be protected; they must be able to live at peace and charity with their neighbours. It frightens me that nobody seems to care about the innocent.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker argues that protecting innocent lives outweighs any sympathy for perpetrators, viewing them as a threat to community safety.
In simple terms: Protect the innocent, even if perpetrators are seen as flawed.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize community safety over empathy for killers.
Themes
ethics
protection
community
justice
compassion
Mood
concerned
protective
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- public policy
- community safety
- healthcare
- education
- law enforcement
Key Concepts
moral responsibility
social contract
innocence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance empathy with protection?
- When should society intervene to protect the innocent?
A Different Perspective
Even if perpetrators are disabled, their actions cause harm that cannot be ignored.