Private life Quote by George Orwell
““As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me. They do not feel any enmity against me as an individual, nor I against them. They are ‘only doing their duty’, as the saying goes. Most of them, I have no doubt, are kind-hearted law-abiding men who would never dream of committing murder in private life. On the other hand, if one of them succeeds in blowing me to pieces with a well-placed bomb, he will never sleep any the worse for it. He is serving his country, which has the power to absolve him from evil.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Shooting an Elephant", 1936
War forces individuals to act as instruments of state violence, erasing personal morality while claiming duty.
In simple terms: War makes people kill without personal hatred.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the moral cost of following orders.
Themes
war
morality
duty
dehumanization
Mood
conflicted
somber
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- soldiers
- pilots
- drone operators
- law enforcement
- political leaders
Key Concepts
state violence
ethical conflict
psychological distance
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you separate duty from personal ethics?
- What safeguards prevent moral disengagement?
A Different Perspective
Individuals may rationalize atrocities as duty, ignoring personal responsibility.
