I object to all punishment whatsoever. I don't want to…
““I object to all punishment whatsoever. I don't want to punish anybody, but there are an extraordinary number of people who I want to kill. Not in any unkind or personal spirit. But it must be evident to all of you, you must all know half a dozen people at least, who are no use in this world; who are more trouble than they are worth. And I think it would be a good thing to make everybody come before a properly appointed board just as he might come before the income tax commissioners and say every 5 years or every 7 years, just put them there, and say, sir or madam, now will you be kind enough to justify your existence? If you can’t justify your existence; if you’re not pulling your weight in the social boat; if you are not producing as much as you consume or perhaps a little more, then clearly we cannot use the big organization of our society for the purpose of keeping you alive, because your life does not benefit us, and it can’t be of very much use to yourself.””
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 argues that individuals who contribute little to society should be evaluated and possibly removed, likening it to a tax assessment of existence.
In simple terms: People who don’t contribute should be judged and possibly eliminated.
Key Takeaway
Assess contribution, consider societal value.
Themes
ethics
society
value of life
utilitarianism
justice
Mood
critical
thought provoking
serious
Type
philosophical
political
controversial
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- welfare reform
- employment assessments
- healthcare allocation
Key Concepts
social contract
productive contribution
existential justification
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should determine a person's worth?
- Is it ethical to judge lives by economic output?