Dear friend Quote by Hugh Howey
““And so I ask you now, dear friend: was this world worth saving to begin with? Were we worth saving? This endeavor was launched with that great assumption taken for granted. Now I ask myself for the first time. And while I view the cleansing of the world as our defining achievement, this business of saving humanity may have been our gravest mistake. The world may be better off without us. I have not the will to decide. I leave that to you. The final shift, my friend, is yours, for I have worked my last. I do not envy you the choice you will have to make. The pact we formed so long ago haunts me as never before. And I feel that what I’m about to do … that this is the easy way.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Book of M” by Hugh Howey, 2018
Humanity’s impact may be harmful; the narrator questions the right to decide humanity’s fate.
In simple terms: We may be a burden on Earth.
Key Takeaway
Consider the ethics of survival.
Themes
ethics
existentialism
environmentalism
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- climate policy
- philosophical debate
- future planning
Key Concepts
human impact
moral responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have to the planet?
- Is it right to let humanity end?
A Different Perspective
Assumes a single perspective on humanity’s value.
