That's as it should be, they tell us. A certain…
““That's as it should be, they tell us. A certain percentage, they tell us, must every year go, that way, to the devil, I suppose, so that the rest may remain chaste, and not be interfered with. A percentage! What splendid words they have; they are so scientific, so consolatory.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote satics the absurdity of rationalizing suffering as a necessary sacrifice to preserve purity, exposing how language can mask cruelty.
In simple terms: People use numbers to justify cruelty.
Key Takeaway
Question the logic behind “necessary” suffering.
Themes
morality
religion
human nature
existentialism
Mood
skeptical
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- religious doctrine
- personal loss
- social policy
- ethical debate
Key Concepts
sacrifice
rationalization
ethical paradox
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- Is suffering ever truly necessary?
- Who decides what must be sacrificed?
A Different Perspective
It ignores individual agency and the possibility of alternative, humane solutions.