We are fond of talking about 'liberty'; but the way we end…
““We are fond of talking about 'liberty'; but the way we end up actually talking of it is an attempt to avoid discussing what is 'good.' We are fond of talking about 'progress'; that is a dodge to avoid discussing what is good. We are fond of talking about 'education'; that is a dodge to avoid discussing what is good. The modern man says, 'Let us leave all these arbitrary standards and embrace unadulterated liberty.' This is, logically rendered, 'Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.' He says, 'Away with your old moral standard; I am for progress.' This, logically stated, means, 'Let us not settle what is good; but let us settle whether we are getting more of it.' He says, 'Neither in religion nor morality, my friend, lie the hopes of the race, but in education.' This, clearly expressed, means, 'We cannot decide what is good, but let us give it to our children.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People replace moral discussion with abstract concepts like liberty, progress, and education, avoiding true ethical debate.
In simple terms: We dodge moral questions by focusing on vague ideals.
Key Takeaway
Engage directly with ethical standards.
Themes
morality
liberty
progress
education
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- public policy
- curriculum design
- political discourse
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
political rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- What values are we neglecting?
- How can we balance liberty with moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Idealism can ignore practical consequences.