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Once I told Ha�anala about the cities of Sodom and…

“Once I told Ha�anala about the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. . . . I told her how Abraham bargained with God for the lives of ten righteous men who might have lived there. She said to me, �Abraham should have taken the babies from the cities. The babies were innocent.�” quote by Mary Doria Russell
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““Once I told Ha�anala about the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. . . . I told her how Abraham bargained with God for the lives of ten righteous men who might have lived there. She said to me, �Abraham should have taken the babies from the cities. The babies were innocent.�””

Mary Doria Russell

About This Quote

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

Compassion for the innocent can conflict with broader moral calculations.

In simple terms: Compassion vs. duty.

Key Takeaway

Balance empathy and duty.

Themes

morality compassion duty

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • theological debate
  • humanitarian aid
  • conflict zones

Key Concepts

ethical dilemmas theodicy

Questions to Reflect On

  • When does protecting the innocent become impractical?
  • How do you weigh individual lives against larger outcomes?
A Different Perspective

Compassion alone may not resolve complex crises.

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