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.”
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.
Consider the moral nuance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- healthcare decisions
- legal debates
- personal morality
- public policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Is potential life equivalent to actual life?
- How should society balance bodily autonomy and potential life?
The view disregards the moral status of potential life.