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Dread not infanticide; the crime is imaginary: we are…

“Dread not infanticide; the crime is imaginary: we are always mistress of what we carry in our womb, and we do no more harm in destroying this kind of matter than in evacuating another, by medicines, when we feel the need.” quote by Marquis de Sade
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“Dread not infanticide; the crime is imaginary: we are always mistress of what we carry in our womb, and we do no more harm in destroying this kind of matter than in evacuating another, by medicines, when we feel the need.”

Marquis de Sade

About This Quote

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

Imaginary crimes like abortion are not harmful; they are merely the removal of potential life, comparable to medical procedures.

In simple terms: Abortion is not a crime; it's a medical act.

Key Takeaway

Consider the moral nuance.

Themes

ethics biology human rights

Mood

provocative controversial

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • healthcare decisions
  • legal debates
  • personal morality
  • public policy

Key Concepts

philosophy medical ethics

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is potential life equivalent to actual life?
  • How should society balance bodily autonomy and potential life?
A Different Perspective

The view disregards the moral status of potential life.

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