Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse…
“Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not really progress at all, but just terrible things.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Justifying harmful actions as necessary for progress often masks moral failure rather than true advancement.
In simple terms: Excusing harm as progress is usually just harm.
Question the morality behind so-called progress.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- technological development
- corporate decisions
- public debate
- activism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What harms are justified in the name of progress?
- How can we differentiate true progress from harmful shortcuts?
Progress narratives can be used to suppress dissent.