Absurdity Quote by Jeannette Walls
![“[Mom] said she didn't want her youngest daughter dressed in the thrift-store clothes the rest of us wore. Mom told us we would have to go shoplifting. "Isn't that a sin?" I asked Mom. "Not exactly," Mom said. "God doesn't mind you bending the rules a little if you have good reason. It's sort of…” quote by Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c7d/jeannette-walls-1378_absurdity_mom-said-she-didn-t-want-her-youngest-da_2171247.jpg)
““[Mom] said she didn't want her youngest daughter dressed in the thrift-store clothes the rest of us wore. Mom told us we would have to go shoplifting. "Isn't that a sin?" I asked Mom. "Not exactly," Mom said. "God doesn't mind you bending the rules a little if you have good reason. It's sort of like justifiable homicide. This is justifiable pilfering.””
About This Quote
Source Memoir: The Glass Castle, 2005
Moral rules can be bent for perceived greater good, but rationalizing wrongdoing risks ethical erosion.
In simple terms: Justifying minor theft as acceptable.
Key Takeaway
Question ethical boundaries.
Themes
morality
family
survival
Mood
conflicted
reflective
Type
memoir
ethical
When to use this quote
- poverty
- family dynamics
- adolescent rebellion
- survival strategies
Key Concepts
ethics
social psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When is breaking a rule justified?
- How do we balance compassion with law?
A Different Perspective
Rationalizing wrongdoing can lead to slippery slope.
