--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is immoral from almost any point of…" description: "\"It is immoral from almost any point of view to refuse to defend yourself and others from very grave and terrible threats, even as there are limits to t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/herman-kahn-16803_defense_it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-v_1292861.jpg" --- # It is immoral from almost any point of view to refuse to… ![“It is immoral from almost any point of view to refuse to defend yourself and others from very grave and terrible threats, even as there are limits to the means that can be used in such defense.” quote by Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/herman-kahn-16803_defense_it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-v_1292861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/herman-kahn-16803_defense_it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-v_1292861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/herman-kahn-16803_defense_it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-v_1292861.jpg) > “It is immoral from almost any point of view to refuse to defend yourself and others from very grave and terrible threats, even as there are limits to the means that can be used in such defense.” [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defending oneself and others against grave threats is morally required, despite limits on defensive means. **In simple terms:** Self‑defense is moral, even with constraints. Key Takeaway Stand up for protection within ethical bounds. Themes ethics self‑defense responsibility Mood serious reflective Type philosophical policy When to use this quote - personal safety - national defense - humanitarian crises - legal limits Key Concepts moral philosophy security studies human rights Questions to Reflect On - When do defensive actions become excessive? - How to set just limits on defense? A Different Perspective Balancing moral duty with proportionality can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) [Immoral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immoral/) [Immoral Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immoral-point-4217424/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-defend-3705786/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible Threats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-threats-4217425/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Threats Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threats-limits-4217423/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [I personally would go further and say that, if your morality is based, as mine is, on a desire to increase the sum of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-personally-would-go-further-and-say-that-if-your-morality-is-based/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It might be pardonable to refuse to defend some men, but to defend them negligently is nothing short of criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-might-be-pardonable-to-refuse-to-defend-some-men-but-to-defend/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [When a cause comes along and you know in your bones that it is just, yet refuse to defend it--at that moment you begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mumia-abu-jamal/when-a-cause-comes-along-and-you-know-in-your-bones-that-it-is-just/) [Mumia Abu-Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mumia-abu-jamal/) > [Well, first of all, no professor should be able to say, I refuse to defend my position. I refuse to debate my position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/well-first-of-all-no-professor-should-be-able-to-say-i-refuse-to/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Nuclear weapons are intrinsically neither moral nor immoral, though they are more prone to immoral use than most weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/nuclear-weapons-are-intrinsically-neither-moral-nor-immoral-though/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Anything that reduces war-related destruction should not be considered altogether immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/anything-that-reduces-war-related-destruction-should-not-be/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Have you ever asked yourself why one person is honorable and another dishonorable; why one is honest, another dishonest; why one is moral, another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-why-one-person-is-honorable-and-another/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Food is being purposefully formulated to addict you.Then it is purposefully marketed, targeted to young children to addict them at an early age. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/food-is-being-purposefully-formulated-to-addict-you-then-it-is/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Americans have always had an ambivalent attitude toward intelligence. When they feel threatened, they want a lot of it, and when they don't, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-a-walters/americans-have-always-had-an-ambivalent-attitude-toward-intelligence/) [Vernon A. Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-a-walters/) > [I do not think homosexuality is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-not-think-homosexuality-is-immoral/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Herman Kahn > [I'm against ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/i-m-against-ignorance/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [I'm against sloppy, emotional thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/i-m-against-sloppy-emotional-thinking/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Anything that reduces war-related destruction should not be considered altogether immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/anything-that-reduces-war-related-destruction-should-not-be/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [World War I broke out largely because of an arms race, and World War II because of the lack of an arms race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/world-war-i-broke-out-largely-because-of-an-arms-race-and-world-war/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [For if enough people were really convinced that growth should be halted, and if they acted on that conviction, then billions of others might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/for-if-enough-people-were-really-convinced-that-growth-should-be/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Risk-taking is the essence of innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/risk-taking-is-the-essence-of-innovation/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [“The common contaminated foods which would be the major source of Sr-90 might be classified into five grades- A, B, C, D, and E...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/the-common-contaminated-foods-which-would-be-the-major-source-of-sr/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Human and moral factors must always be considered. They must never be missing from policies and from public discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/human-and-moral-factors-must-always-be-considered-they-must-never-be/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [For some years I have spent my time on exactly these questions - both in thinking about ways to prevent war, and in thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/for-some-years-i-have-spent-my-time-on-exactly-these-questions-both/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [It may literally turn out that a Hottentot, an educated and literate Hottentot it is true, but one who is a member of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/it-may-literally-turn-out-that-a-hottentot-an-educated-and-literate/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [New developments in weapon systems during the 1950s and early 1960s created a situation that was most dangerous, and even conducive to accidental war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/new-developments-in-weapon-systems-during-the-1950s-and-early-1960s/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [To the extent that these advanced weapons or their components are treated as articles of commerce, perhaps for peaceful uses as in the Plowshare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/to-the-extent-that-these-advanced-weapons-or-their-components-are/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Only those who are ideologically opposed to military programs think of the defense budget as the first and best place to get resources for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/only-those-who-are-ideologically-opposed-to-military-programs-think/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Nuclear weapons are intrinsically neither moral nor immoral, though they are more prone to immoral use than most weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/nuclear-weapons-are-intrinsically-neither-moral-nor-immoral-though/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [In 1960 I published a book that attempted to direct attention to the possibility of a thermonuclear war, to ways of reducing the likelihood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/in-1960-i-published-a-book-that-attempted-to-direct-attention-to-the/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) [Explore all 39 Herman Kahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) ## More Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) [Tasha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-marie/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) [Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is immoral from almost any point of view to refuse to defend yourself and others from very grave and terrible threats, even as there are limits to the means that can be used in such defense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Kahn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-view-to-refuse-to-defend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-view-to-refuse-to-defend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/herman-kahn-16803_defense_it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-v_1292861.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/herman-kahn-16803_defense_it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-v_1292861.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/herman-kahn-16803_defense_it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-v_1292861.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is immoral from almost any point of view to refuse to defend yourself and others from very grave and…” — Herman Kahn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herman Kahn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is immoral from almost any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-view-to-refuse-to-defend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/it-is-immoral-from-almost-any-point-of-view-to-refuse-to-defend/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```