Fire Quote by Ami Ayalon
“An order to fire on people that do not fire on you is a completely illegal order.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Military Ethics Lecture, 2015
Ordering fire on non‑combatants violates legal and moral standards, emphasizing the illegality of indiscriminate violence.
In simple terms: Shooting people who don’t shoot back is illegal.
Key Takeaway
Never obey unlawful orders.
Themes
law
ethics
military conduct
human rights
war crimes
Mood
serious
reflective
critical
Type
ethical
policy
military
When to use this quote
- combat situations
- military training
- policy making
- humanitarian law
Key Concepts
international law
rules of engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justified to target civilians?
- How can soldiers verify legality of orders?
A Different Perspective
Complex chains of command can obscure responsibility.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
