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A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions…

“A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inactions, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury” quote by John Stuart Mill
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““A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inactions, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury””

John Stuart Mill

About This Quote

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

People are responsible not only for what they do, but also for what they fail to do, when that in causes harm.

In simple terms: Both actions and inactions can cause harm, and both are accountable.

Key Takeaway

Consider the impact of your inactions.

Themes

responsibility ethics accountability

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • policy making
  • personal relationships
  • environmental stewardship

Key Concepts

consequentialism moral philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What inactions might you be overlooking?
  • How can you address them?
A Different Perspective

Neglect can be harder to notice than direct harm.

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