Once upon a time," said the Kiritsugu, "there were people…
““Once upon a time," said the Kiritsugu, "there were people who dropped a U-235 fission bomb, on a place called Hiroshima. They killed perhaps seventy thousand people, and ended a war. And if the good and decent officer who pressed that button had needed to walk up to a man, a woman, a child, and slit their throats one at a time, he would have broken long before he killed seventy thousand people." Someone made a choking noise, as if trying to cough out something that had suddenly lodged deep in their throat. "But pressing a button is different," the Kiritsugu said. "You don't see the results, then. Stabbing someone with a knife has an impact on you. The first time, anyway. Shooting someone with a gun is easier. Being a few meters further away makes a surprising difference. Only needing to pull a trigger changes it a lot. As for pressing a button on a spaceship - that's the easiest of all. Then the part about 'fifteen billion' just gets flushed away. And more importantly - you think it was the right thing to do. The noble, the moral, the honorable thing to do. For the safety of your tribe. You're proud of it -””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrative contrasts the psychological distance of remote warfare with the visceral impact of direct violence, suggesting that detachment can make large‑scale destruction feel morally permissible.
In simple terms: Remote killing feels easier than direct violence.
Key Takeaway
Consider the moral distance in modern warfare.
Themes
ethics
war
psychology
detachment
technology
Mood
thought‑provoking
somber
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- military decision‑making
- policy debate
- public discourse
- education
Key Concepts
moral psychology
just war theory
remote warfare
Questions to Reflect On
- How does distance affect moral judgment?
- Can we reconcile technology with ethical responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Detachment may obscure the true human cost of conflict.