Brandon, until this very moment, the world and the people…
““Brandon, until this very moment, the world and the people in it have always been dark and incomprehensible to me, and I've tried to clear my way with logic and superior intellect, and you've thrown by own words right back in my face; you've given my words a meaning that I never dreamed of, and you tried to twist them into a cold logical excuse for your ugly murder! Tonight you've made me ashamed of every concept I've ever had, of superior or inferior beings, but I thank you for that shame, because now I know that we're each of us a separate human being, Brandon, with the right to live and work and think as individuals, but with an obligation to the society that we live in. By what right do you dare say that there's a superior few to which you belong? By what right did you dare decide that that boy in there [he's referencing the dead body of "David," lying in a trunk in the middle of the room] was inferior and therefore could be killed? Did you think you were God Brandon? Is that what you thought when you choked the life out of him? Is that what you thought when you served food from his grave! I don't know what you thought or what you are, but I know what you've done—YOU'VE MURDERED! You've strangled the life of a fellow human being who could live and love as you never could... and never will again!””
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 condemns the misuse of intellect to justify cruelty, urging recognition of each person's inherent dignity and societal responsibility.
In simple terms: Logic misused leads to cruelty; respect each individual's right to live.
Recognize and uphold every person's inherent worth.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legal trials
- medical ethics
- workplace bullying
- political oppression
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a superior being?
- How can we balance individual rights with societal duties?
The speaker assumes a single moral perspective, ignoring cultural relativism.