Abortion Quote by John Irving
““Once the state starts providing, it feels free to hand out the rules, too!" Larch blurted hastily. ..."In a better world..." she began patiently. "No, not in a better world!" he cried. "In this one--in this world. I take this world as a given. Talk to me about this world!" ... "Oh, I can't always be right," Larch said tiredly. "Yes, I know," Nurse Caroline said sympathetically. "It's because even a good man can't always be right that we need a society, that we need certain rules--call them priorities, if you prefer," she said. ... Always in the background of his mind, there was a newborn baby crying... And they were not crying to be born, he knew; they were crying because they were born.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The World According to Garp, John Irving, 1978
Rules arise from societal needs, but personal experience and moral doubt constantly challenge them.
In simple terms: Rules exist, yet personal doubts arise.
Key Takeaway
Balance societal rules with personal conscience.
Themes
society
rules
morality
Mood
thoughtful
conflicted
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- lawmaking
- parenting
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
human experience
Questions to Reflect On
- When should personal conscience override rules?
- How do we negotiate conflicting moral priorities?
A Different Perspective
Rigid rules can suppress individual nuance.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
