Chairs Quote by Gerald Stanley Lee
“The idea ... that collective society should take hold of Evil and set it down hard in its chair and make it cry seems to many of us absolutely sound. Of course, we feel that it is not for us, those who love righteousness, to jump on the necks of the wicked. We prefer to have it attended to in a more dignified, impersonal way by Society as a whole.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Problem of Evil", 1915
Society should collectively confront evil decisively rather than leaving individuals to act personally, aiming for a dignified, impersonal resolution.
In simple terms: Society must handle evil together.
Key Takeaway
Promote collective action against wrongdoing.
Themes
justice
collective responsibility
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community activism
- legal reform
- education campaigns
Key Concepts
philosophy
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- Can impersonal approaches truly address moral harm?
- How to ensure accountability in collective action?
A Different Perspective
Risk of bureaucratic detachment from individual suffering.
