Able Quote by Aldous Huxley
“The surest way to work up a crusade in favor of some good cause is to promise people they will have a chance of maltreating someone. To be able to destroy with good conscience, to be able to behave badly and call your bad behavior 'righteous indignation' — this is the height of psychological luxury, the most delicious of moral treats.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, 1932
The passage critiques how people rationalize harmful actions as morally justified, turning cruelty into a self‑satisfied moral indulgence.
In simple terms: People can justify bad deeds as righteous, creating a false moral luxury.
Key Takeaway
Question your motives before labeling actions as righteous.
Themes
morality
psychology
power
self‑deception
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- corporate decisions
- personal conflicts
- justice movements
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
moral licensing
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal biases might mask harmful behavior?
- How can societies guard against moral self‑deception?
A Different Perspective
Such rationalizations can be deeply entrenched and hard to confront.
