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Giants isn't eating each other either, the BFG said. Nor…

“Giants isn't eating each other either, the BFG said. Nor is giants killing each other. Giants is not very lovely, but they is not killing each other. Nor is crockadowndillies killing other crockadowndillies. Nor is pussy-cats killing pussy-cats. 'They kill mice,' Sophie said. 'Ah, but they is not…” quote by Roald Dahl
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““Giants isn't eating each other either, the BFG said. Nor is giants killing each other. Giants is not very lovely, but they is not killing each other. Nor is crockadowndillies killing other crockadowndillies. Nor is pussy-cats killing pussy-cats. 'They kill mice,' Sophie said. 'Ah, but they is not killing their own kind,' the BFG said. 'Human beans is the only animals that is killing their own kind.' 'Don't poisonous snakes kill each other?' Sophie asked. She was searching desperately for another creature that behaved as badly as the human. 'Even poisnowse snakes is never killing each other,' the BFG said. 'Nor is the most fearsome creatures like tigers and rhinostossterisses. None of them is ever killing their own kind. Has you ever thought about that?' Sophie kept silent. 'I is not understanding human beans at all,' the BFG said.' You is a human bean and you is saying it is grizzling and horrigust for giants to be eating human beans. Right or left?' 'Right,' Sophie said. 'But human beans is squishing each other all the time,' the BFG said. 'They is shootling guns and going up in aerioplanes to drop their bombs on each other's heads every week. Human beans is always killing other human beans.' He was right. Of course he was right and Sophie knew it. She was beginning to wonder whether humans were actually any better than giants. 'Even so,' she said, defending her own race, I' think it's rotten that those foul giants should go off every night to eat humans. Humans have never done them any harm.' 'That is what the little piggy-wig is saying every day,' the BFG answered. 'He is saying, "I has never done any harm to the human bean so why should he be eating me?'" 'Oh dear,' Sophie said. 'The human beans is making rules to suit themselves,' the BFG went on. 'But the rules they is making do not suit the little piggy-wiggies. Am I right or left?' 'Right,' Sophie said. 'Giants is also making rules. Their rules is not suiting the human beans. Everybody is making his own rules to suit himself.””

Roald Dahl

About This Quote

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

The BFG argues that many creatures, including giants and humans, claim moral superiority while still harming their own kind, highlighting hypocrisy in moral judgments.

In simple terms: Creatures claim to be kind but still harm their own species.

Key Takeaway

Question the moral superiority of any group.

Themes

hypocrisy morality human nature

Mood

critical thought‑provoking

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • Philosophy
  • ,
  • human rights
  • environmental ethics

Key Concepts

ethical relativism self‑interest speciesism

Practical Applications

  • Humans claim moral superiority despite violence
  • giants claim innocence while eating humans

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does it mean to be “kind” if we harm our own?
  • Can any species truly be non‑violent?
A Different Perspective

Moral judgments are often self‑serving and inconsistent.

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