Accident Quote by D. Douglas Wilson
““...the hope that the day will not be far distant when it will be popularly considered that to lose life by accident in productive and distributive industry is just as noble and heroic as to lose it by accident on board a man of war. That to lose life by being drowned like a rat in as mine is just as worthy as being drowned like a rat in the hold of an ironclad. That to lose a limb by an exploding shell is no more worthy of national consideration than to lose one in a rolling mill. That to be blown up by a torpedo creates no more sorrow in the unfortunate's family than to be blown up by a boiler. That one should not be the hero of an apotheosis while the other goes to Eternity unhonored and unsung.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Moral Equality of Labor and Military Sacrifice (published in a theological journal)
The passage argues that all forms of work, whether industrial or military, deserve equal honor when they result in accidental death.
In simple terms: All work deaths should be equally respected.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the value of all labor.
Themes
e
honor
work
military
social justice
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- factory safety meetings
- military memorials
- public policy debates
- ethical education
Key Concepts
Equality
valor
industrial risk
military sacrifice
Questions to Reflect On
- Is accidental death in industry truly comparable to combat?
- How should societies honor different types of sacrifice?
A Different Perspective
May ignore differences in voluntariness and societal impact.
![“The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss—an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc.—is sure to be noticed. [quoting Søren Kierkegaard]” quote by Louisa Thomsen Brits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13b/louisa-thomsen-brits-4007_death_the-greatest-hazard-of-all-losing-one-s_1748126.jpg)
