Among the innumerable books on Addy’s shelves was one by…
““Among the innumerable books on Addy’s shelves was one by Ernest Hemingway in which I found these words: ‘What is moral is what you feel good after. What is immoral is what you feel bad after.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Moral judgments are tied to emotional aftereffects; feeling good after an act suggests morality, feeling bad suggests immorality.
In simple terms: We judge right and wrong by how actions make us feel afterward.
Key Takeaway
Reflect on the emotional outcomes of your choices.
Themes
ethics
emotion
subjectivity
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- leadership
- policy making
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions make you feel good but could be harmful?
- Do you trust gut feelings for ethics?
A Different Perspective
Emotions can be misleading; moral truths may be objective.