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To kill a human being is, after all, the least injury you…

“To kill a human being is, after all, the least injury you can do him.” quote by Henry James
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“To kill a human being is, after all, the least injury you can do him.”

Henry James

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Suggests that killing a person is the minimal harm compared to other possible cruelties, implying deeper moral injury.

In simple terms: Killing is the least harm you can inflict.

Key Takeaway

Consider the moral weight of violence.

Themes

ethics violence philosophy

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • criminal justice
  • war ethics
  • philosophical debate
  • literary analysis

Key Concepts

moral relativism human dignity

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is killing ever justifiable?
  • What non‑lethal harms are more damaging?
A Different Perspective

Violence often causes far greater unseen damage.

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