Children Quote by Dennis Prager
““As regards pacifism, the belief that it is always wrong to kill a human being, again, anyone is free to hold this position, as immoral as it may be. And what other word than ‘immoral’ can one use to describe forbidding the killing of someone who is in the process of murdering innocent men, women and children, in, let's say, a movie theater or a school? But it is dishonest to cite the commandment against murder to justify pacifism. There is moral killing — most obviously when done in self-defense against an aggressor — and there is immoral killing. And the word for that is ‘murder.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Ethics of Pacifism, 2018
He argues that killing in self‑defense is morally permissible, distinguishing it from immoral killing.
In simple terms: Self‑defense killing is moral.
Key Takeaway
Recognize moral nuance.
Themes
ethics
violence
self‑defense
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
debate
When to use this quote
- legal defense
- personal safety
- policy debate
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
just war theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When is killing justified?
- How do we define “immoral”?
A Different Perspective
Moral judgments can be culturally subjective.
![“Moreover [pacifists] do not as a rule condemn violence as such, but only violence used in defence of western countries” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ce/george-orwell-57_pacifism_moreover-pacifists-do-not-as-a-rule-cond_1204858.jpg)
![“If they [liberals] didn't believe we were mean spirited they couldn't stay liberal. They have to believe they mean better than us, but we don't have to believe that we mean better than them. We have to believe that we do better than them. We measure morality by what happens not what is intended.” quote by Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/95d/dennis-prager-631_believe_if-they-liberals-didn-t-believe-we-were_111894.jpg)
