Body Quote by Herman Melville
“Cannibalism to a certain moderate extent is practised among several of the primitive tribes in the Pacific, but it is upon the bodies of slain enemies alone; and horrible and fearful as the custom is, immeasurably as it is to be abhorred and condemned, still I assert that those who indulge in it are in other respects humane and virtuous.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Type of the Sea, Herman Melville, 1851
The author argues that even practices deemed abhorrent can coexist with moral virtues in certain contexts.
In simple terms: Even terrible acts may coexist with virtue.
Key Takeaway
Recognize moral complexity.
Themes
ethics
culture
humanity
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- anthropology studies
- historical analysis
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
moral relativism
cultural practices
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies reconcile harmful customs with moral values?
- What criteria determine when a practice is condemnable?
A Different Perspective
Moral judgments can be oversimplified.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
