Back Quote by Gordon Korman
““Plus, Barnstorm is complaining about his mobility with only one crutch. “Then you shouldn’t have busted the other one over Elaine’s head,” Aldo tells him. “It was her back, not her head,” Barnstorm retorts. “I saved her life, man. She’d better remember that while deciding who her next victim’s going to be.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Swindle by Gordon Korman, 2008
A character boasts about a violent act, highlighting twisted moral logic and the danger of rationalizing cruelty.
In simple terms: He justifies harming others as heroic.
Key Takeaway
Question the morality of ends justifying means.
Themes
morality
violence
heroism
Mood
tense
dark
cynical
Type
narrative
dialogue
When to use this quote
- friendship conflicts
- bullying
- self‑justification
Key Concepts
rationalization
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Is violence ever justified for a “greater good”?
- How does power corrupt moral judgment?
A Different Perspective
His justification ignores the victim’s suffering.
