My own concern is primarily the terror and violence…
““My own concern is primarily the terror and violence carried out by my own state, for two reasons. For one thing, because it happens to be the larger component of international violence. But also for a much more important reason than that; namely, I can do something about it. So even if the U.S. was responsible for 2 percent of the violence in the world instead of the majority of it, it would be that 2 percent I would be primarily responsible for. And that is a simple ethical judgment. That is, the ethical value of one's actions depends on their anticipated and predictable consequences. It is very easy to denounce the atrocities of someone else. That has about as much ethical value as denouncing atrocities that took place in the 18th century.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
One should judge a state's actions by its own harm caused; even a small share of responsibility is ethically significant
In simple terms: Assess a state's own violence, not others'
Key Takeaway
Focus on your own state's impact for ethical judgment
Themes
ethics
state violence
responsibility
consequences
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- human rights advocacy
- policy critique
- academic research
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
political analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What ethical weight does a small contribution to harm carry?
- How to address state violence when it’s a minority of total conflict?
A Different Perspective
Complex global dynamics can dilute personal accountability