Habits Quote by Aldous Huxley
““It is better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted. Consider the matter dispassionately, Mr. Foster, and you will see that no offence so heinous as unorthodoxy of behaviour. Murder kills only the individual -- and after all what is an individual?" With a sweeping gesture he indicated the rows of microscopes, the test-tubes, the incubators. "We can make a new one with the greatest ease -- As many as we like. Unorthodoxy threatens more than the lie of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself," he repeated.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, 1932
He argues that suffering is preferable to widespread corruption, warning that unorthodoxy threatens society more than individual transgressions.
In simple terms: Suffering is better than societal corruption; unorthodoxy threatens society.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize societal health over individual comfort.
Themes
ethics
society
individual vs collective
Mood
philosophical
warning
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- government policy
- education
- public health
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
social stability
scientific ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- When does protecting society become oppression?
- How to balance individual rights with social good?
A Different Perspective
Suppressing dissent can stifle progress.
