Character Quote by Ernest Hemingway
““So far, about morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after and judged by these standards, which I do not defend, the bullfight is very normal to me because I feel very fine while it is going on and have a feeling of life and death and mortality and immortality, and after it is over I feel very sad but also very fine.””
About This Quote
Morality is judged by personal feelings; actions like bullfighting feel right to some, yet cause mixed emotions afterward.
In simple terms: Morality is based on personal feelings, not universal standards.
Key Takeaway
Question your own moral feelings.
Themes
morality
subjectivity
emotion
Mood
introspective
conflicted
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- cultural practices
- emotional processing
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
psychology of feeling
Questions to Reflect On
- Do your feelings align with broader ethical norms?
- Can you separate emotion from moral judgment?
A Different Perspective
Personal feelings may be unreliable guides for ethical decisions.
