--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people seem to believe that not only…" description: "\"“Most people seem to believe that not only is it permissible to turn the train down the spur, it is actually required—morally obligatory.”\" — David Edm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/david-edmonds-64956_fitness_most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-onl_706965.jpg" --- # Most people seem to believe that not only is it… ![“Most people seem to believe that not only is it permissible to turn the train down the spur, it is actually required—morally obligatory.” quote by David Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/david-edmonds-64956_fitness_most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-onl_706965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/david-edmonds-64956_fitness_most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-onl_706965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/david-edmonds-64956_fitness_most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-onl_706965.jpg) > ““Most people seem to believe that not only is it permissible to turn the train down the spur, it is actually required—morally obligatory.”” [David Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that certain actions, like diverting a train, are seen as morally required, not just allowed. **In simple terms:** Some actions feel ethically compulsory. Key Takeaway Recognize moral pressure in decision‑making. Themes ethics responsibility technology Mood thought‑provoking serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - engineering decisions - public safety policies - environmental regulations Key Concepts moral obligation decision theory Questions to Reflect On - When does duty become impractical? - Who decides what is morally obligatory? A Different Perspective Moral duty can conflict with practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) ## Related quotes > [We actually have not required in this law that you carry health insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/we-actually-have-not-required-in-this-law-that-you-carry-health/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [If America is a ship, it looks a lot like it's sinking - financially, morally, spiritually. It's frightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/if-america-is-a-ship-it-looks-a-lot-like-it-s-sinking-financially/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [I mean, you're right about the fire and war, all that. But that Rapture stuff--well, if you could see them all in Heaven--serried ranks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-mean-you-re-right-about-the-fire-and-war-all-that-but-that-rapture/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Whatever is morally necessary must be made politically possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/whatever-is-morally-necessary-must-be-made-politically-possible/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [I grew up feeling that to be gay was a tragedy. I didn't grow up thinking that it was morally wrong, but I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-grew-up-feeling-that-to-be-gay-was-a-tragedy-i-didn-t-grow-up/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [Whatever it takes to stop someone from abusing animals is certainly morally acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-vlasak/whatever-it-takes-to-stop-someone-from-abusing-animals-is-certainly/) [Jerry Vlasak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-vlasak/) > [I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. I am free, no matter what rules surround…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-am-free-because-i-know-that-i-alone-am-morally-responsible-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I feel like I've always approached criticism with a degree of morality, right? Like, not as a moralizer, but just as somebody who wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-approached-criticism-with-a-degree-of/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [It is morally as bad not to care whether anything is true or not...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-way-teale/it-is-morally-as-bad-not-to-care-whether-anything-is-true-or-not/) [Edwin Way Teale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-way-teale/) > [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [ Nineteen thousand children \[are\] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-every-day-does-it-really-matter/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I think that slavery is wrong, morally, socially and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-think-that-slavery-is-wrong-morally-socially-and-politically-i/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we're being told to do stupid or cruel things, then it is morally correct to disobey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/if-we-re-being-told-to-do-stupid-or-cruel-things-then-it-is-morally/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [What's to become of the morally sound? Left out in the cold, I suppose. We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson ## More by David Edmonds > [“Subjectivism maintains that there are no objective moral truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/subjectivism-maintains-that-there-are-no-objective-moral-truths/) [David Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/) > [“Bentham maintained that what mattered about an action was how much pleasure it produced and how much pain was avoided. He enjoined us always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/bentham-maintained-that-what-mattered-about-an-action-was-how-much/) [David Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/) > [“His face was broad and fat, his mouth wide, and without any other expression than that of imbecility. His eyes vacant and spiritless, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/his-face-was-broad-and-fat-his-mouth-wide-and-without-any-other/) [David Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/) > [“Deontology states that there are certain things, like torture, that you just shouldn’t do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/deontology-states-that-there-are-certain-things-like-torture-that-you/) [David Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/) [Explore all 5 David Edmonds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/) ## More Fitness quotes > [I train my muscles, and I do a lot of stretching, and try to kick higher. But for me, practicing kung-fu is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/i-train-my-muscles-and-i-do-a-lot-of-stretching-and-try-to-kick/) [Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [I always wanted to make sure that within my unit that I was never the weak person. So I made sure that my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-within-my-unit-that-i-was-never-the/) [Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/) > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [“He sighed. "Look, love, I know I seem like a tactical genius, but really, I'm just a magician who occasionally kills a bunny or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/he-sighed-look-love-i-know-i-seem-like-a-tactical-genius-but-really-i/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) [Browse all 13,910 Fitness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most people seem to believe that not only is it permissible to turn the train down the spur, it is actually required—morally obligatory.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Edmonds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-only-is-it-permissible-to-turn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fitness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-only-is-it-permissible-to-turn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/david-edmonds-64956_fitness_most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-onl_706965.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/david-edmonds-64956_fitness_most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-onl_706965.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/david-edmonds-64956_fitness_most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-onl_706965.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most people seem to believe that not only is it permissible to turn the train down the spur, it is actually…” — David Edmonds", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Edmonds", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Most people seem to believe that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-only-is-it-permissible-to-turn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/most-people-seem-to-believe-that-not-only-is-it-permissible-to-turn/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```