Thee might observe incidentally that if the state paid for…
“Thee might observe incidentally that if the state paid for child-bearing it might and ought to require a medical certificate that the parents were such as to give a reasonable result of a healthy child -- this would afford a very good inducement to some sort of care for the race, and gradually as public opinion became educated by the law, it might react on the law and make that more stringent, until one got to some state of things in which there would be a little genuine care for the race, instead of the present haphazard higgledy-piggledy ways.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Advocates state-supported child‑bearing with health certification to promote responsible parenting and improve population quality.
In simple terms: State should require health checks for parents to encourage better child‑rearing.
Key Takeaway
Implement health standards for parental fitness.
Themes
public health
population ethics
state responsibility
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
philosophical
policy
ethical
When to use this quote
- family planning
- healthcare policy
- education reforms
- welfare programs
Key Concepts
eugenics
social engineering
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How would such policies affect personal freedom?
- What safeguards prevent misuse?
A Different Perspective
Ethical concerns about bodily autonomy and potential discrimination.