Abstention Quote by George Bernard Shaw
“A dinner! How horrible! I am to be made the pretext for killing all those wretched animals and birds, and fish! Thank you for nothing. Now if it were to be a fast instead of a feast; say a solemn three days' abstention from corpses in my honour, I could at least pretend to believe that it was disinterested. Blood sacrifices are not in my line”
About This Quote
Source Play: Man and Superman, 1903
The speaker condemns a feast that uses animal slaughter, suggesting a fast would be a more sincere moral stance.
In simple terms: Criticizes using animals for a meal, prefers fasting as genuine.
Key Takeaway
Consider ethical alternatives to animal consumption.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
hypocrisy
food
celebration
Mood
discontent
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- dinner parties
- religious feasts
- political protests
- personal dietary choices
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
social critique
cultural tradition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal sacrifice compare to symbolic gestures?
- What alternatives honor both tradition and compassion?
A Different Perspective
May overlook cultural significance of communal meals.
