Greater good Quote by Jodi Picoult
“There were lies we told to save ourselves, and then there were lies we told to rescue others. What counted more, the mistruth, or the greater good?”
About This Quote
Source Novel: My Sister's Keeper, 2004
Explores moral ambiguity of lying for self‑preservation versus altruism
In simple terms: Lying can protect self or others, but raises ethical questions
Key Takeaway
Consider the impact of truth versus harm before lying
Themes
ethics
truth
altruism
Mood
conflicted
thoughtful
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- legal testimony
- medical decisions
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a lie justified?
- Who decides the greater good?
A Different Perspective
Truth may cause greater harm in some contexts
![“[...] the kind of healer who knows that sometimes one must inflict terrible agony - rebreak a bone, carve off a limb, kill the weak - in order to make the whole stronger.” quote by N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b79/n-k-jemisin-1466_difficult-decisions_the-kind-of-healer-who-knows-that-someti_50107.jpg)
