--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we cannot have moral feelings against…" description: "\"If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder? Can we have it against other things?\" — Antonin Scalia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/antonin-scalia-2855_feelings_if-we-cannot-have-moral-feelings-against_1053328.png" --- # If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality… ![“If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder? Can we have it against other things?” quote by Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/antonin-scalia-2855_feelings_if-we-cannot-have-moral-feelings-against_1053328.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/antonin-scalia-2855_feelings_if-we-cannot-have-moral-feelings-against_1053328.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/antonin-scalia-2855_feelings_if-we-cannot-have-moral-feelings-against_1053328.png) > “If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder? Can we have it against other things?” [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral feelings toward one act do not automatically extend to all acts; moral reasoning varies. **In simple terms:** Moral judgments differ across issues. Key Takeaway Consider each issue individually. Themes ethics law morality Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical legal When to use this quote - legal arguments - public policy - ethical debates Key Concepts jurisprudence philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do you think moral feelings should be consistent? - What guides your moral judgments? A Different Perspective Moral intuitions can be inconsistent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feelings Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-homosexuality-2532842/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Homosexuality Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality-murder-2532843/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-feelings-1807716/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) ## Related quotes > [My feelings on homosexuality are unequivocal. I have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever. My only reservation is marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/my-feelings-on-homosexuality-are-unequivocal-i-have-absolutely-no/) [Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/) > [“Evolution, therefore, cannot account for the origin of our moral feelings, let alone for the fact that we all believe there are external moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/evolution-therefore-cannot-account-for-the-origin-of-our-moral/) [Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/) > [Mr. J.S. Mill speaks, in his celebrated work, "Utilitarianism," of the social feelings as a "powerful natural sentiment," and as "the natural basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/mr-j-s-mill-speaks-in-his-celebrated-work-utilitarianism-of-the/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“The serial killer Gary Gilmore summed up the attitude of someone without moral feelings: “I was always capable of murder.… I can become totally devoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/the-serial-killer-gary-gilmore-summed-up-the-attitude-of-someone/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [The strongest feelings assigned to the conscience are not moral feelings at all; they express merely physical antipathies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-strongest-feelings-assigned-to-the-conscience-are-not-moral/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [“You have no compelling moral intuitions to guide you in solving that problem. Your moral feelings are attached to frames, to descriptions of reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/you-have-no-compelling-moral-intuitions-to-guide-you-in-solving-that/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“Consoler of our misery, religion is at the same time the most natural of our emotions. Unknown to us, all our physical sensations, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-constant/consoler-of-our-misery-religion-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-natural/) [Benjamin Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-constant/) > [In the metaphysical elements of aesthetics the various nonmoral feelings are to be made use of; in the elements of moral metaphysics the various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/in-the-metaphysical-elements-of-aesthetics-the-various-nonmoral/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [The subjectivist in morals, when his moral feelings are at war with the facts about him, is always free to seek harmony by toningdown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-subjectivist-in-morals-when-his-moral-feelings-are-at-war-with/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Your moral feelings are attached to frames, to descriptions of reality rather than to reality itself. The message about the nature of framing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/your-moral-feelings-are-attached-to-frames-to-descriptions-of-reality/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“Kant finds that the ‘virtue of the heart’ is central and emphasizes the role of the understanding and concepts at the expense of inclinations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manfred-kuehn/kant-finds-that-the-virtue-of-the-heart-is-central-and-emphasizes-the/) [Manfred Kuehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manfred-kuehn/) > [Part of my platform is, of course, the guilty must be punished and that we no longer let our children see their guilty leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/part-of-my-platform-is-of-course-the-guilty-must-be-punished-and-that/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [A man who kills on his own is a murderer. A man who kills at his government's request is a national hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramman-kenoun/a-man-who-kills-on-his-own-is-a-murderer-a-man-who-kills-at-his/) [Ramman Kenoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramman-kenoun/) > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Antonin Scalia > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-think-aficionados-of-a-living-constitution-want-to-bring-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Wringing your hands about states' rights, forget it. They're gone. Basically, the federal government can do whatever it wants. Who's going to protect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/wringing-your-hands-about-states-rights-forget-it-they-re-gone/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you condemn someone who has committed a crime to be tortured, that would be unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-condemn-someone-who-has-committed-a-crime-to-be-tortured-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Burning the flag is a form of expression. Speech doesn't just mean written words or oral words. It could be semaphore. And burning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/burning-the-flag-is-a-form-of-expression-speech-doesn-t-just-mean/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Being a good person begins with being a wise person. Then, when you follow your conscience, will you be headed in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/being-a-good-person-begins-with-being-a-wise-person-then-when-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The court's job is to uphold the Constitution and you don't call that off in times of crisis. Would the framers have allowed this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-s-job-is-to-uphold-the-constitution-and-you-don-t-call-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [We have laws against torture. The Constitution says nothing whatever about torture. It speaks of punishment; 'cruel and unusual' punishments are forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/we-have-laws-against-torture-the-constitution-says-nothing-whatever/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Many think it not only inevitable but entirely proper that liberty give way to security in times of national crisis--that, at the extremes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/many-think-it-not-only-inevitable-but-entirely-proper-that-liberty/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/that-s-the-argument-of-flexibility-and-it-goes-something-like-this/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Why in the world would you have it interpreted by nine lawyers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/why-in-the-world-would-you-have-it-interpreted-by-nine-lawyers/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [ Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality \[whatever that means\] were freedoms? And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/who-ever-thought-that-intimacy-and-spirituality-whatever-that-means/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I'm nervous about our civic culture. I'm not sure the Internet is largely the cause of it. It's certainly the cause of careless writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-m-nervous-about-our-civic-culture-i-m-not-sure-the-internet-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) [Explore all 146 Antonin Scalia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## More Feelings quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/) [Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder? 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