Duty and honor Quote by Daniel Abraham
““We did an evil thing, father." "What do you think war is? We're men. Not boys swinging sticks at each other and pronouncing the evil wizard's defeat. We do what duty and honor demand, and often what we do is terrible.””
About This Quote
War forces men to commit terrible acts under duty and honor, blurring morality.
In simple terms: War makes terrible deeds seem duty-bound.
Key Takeaway
Question the morality of duty in conflict.
Themes
war
morality
duty
honor
Mood
conflicted
serious
Type
philosophical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- combat experience
- military training
- political decision making
- peace activism
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
military history
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile personal ethics with orders?
- Can honor exist without violence?
A Different Perspective
Duty can be used to justify atrocities.
![“I think most of us secretly know – and those of us at the radical middle are inclined to say – that without such concepts as duty and honor and service, no civilization can endure. ... I suspect most Americans would respond positively to a [draft] if it gives us some choice in how to exercise that…” quote by Mark Satin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/309/mark-satin-92303_choices_i-think-most-of-us-secretly-know-and-tho_1974101.jpg)