Contempt Quote by Andrzej Sapkowski
““Geralt,' said the lawyer, closing his eyes. 'What drives you? If you want to save Ciri . . . I wouldn't have thought you could afford the luxury of contempt. No, that was badly expressed. You can't afford the luxury of spurning contempt. A time of contempt is approaching, Witcher, my friend, a time of great and utter contempt. You have to adapt. What I'm proposing is a simple solution. Someone will die, so someone else can live. Someone you love will survive. A girl you don't know, and whom you've never seen, will die—' 'And who am I free to despise?' interrupted the Witcher. 'Am I to pay for what I love with contempt for myself?””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Witcher Saga, The Lady of the Lake, 1999
A moral dilemma forces a hero to choose between personal contempt and sacrificing others for a greater good, highlighting the cost of integrity.
In simple terms: Choosing between self‑contempt and harming others is a painful moral choice.
Key Takeaway
Weigh personal values against the cost to others.
Themes
morality
sacrifice
integrity
Mood
conflicted
reflective
Type
philosophical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- war
- personal crisis
- family protection
- making impossible choices
Key Concepts
ethical dilemma
conscience
utilitarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true honor demand when all options hurt?
- Can one live without self‑contempt?
A Different Perspective
The solution may ignore the hero’s agency and oversimplify complex ethics.
![“Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt. We [Republicans] are the number one enemy. And they will put aside whatever differences they have.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08a/rush-limbaugh-28_cabinets_every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-fro_29974.jpg){kind=icon}