If you're talking about mugging little old ladies, you…
“If you're talking about mugging little old ladies, you don't say, 'What's our target for the rate of mugging little old ladies?' You say, 'Mugging little old ladies is bad, and we're going to try to eliminate it.' You recognize you might not be a hundred percent successful, but your goal is to eliminate the mugging of little old ladies. And I think we need to eventually come around to looking at carbon dioxide emissions the same way.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Comparing moral urgency of protecting vulnerable people to addressing climate change, urging decisive action despite imperfect outcomes.
In simple terms: Treat protecting the vulnerable and cutting emissions as urgent, clear goals.
Key Takeaway
Set clear, ambitious targets and act.
Themes
ethics
climate
policy
justice
Mood
concerned
determined
Type
policy
advocacy
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- public health campaigns
- community safety programs
- environmental activism
Key Concepts
moral urgency
public health
environmental risk
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we frame climate action as a moral imperative?
- What obstacles prevent clear target setting?
A Different Perspective
Political compromise can dilute urgency.