Disagreeable Quote by John le Carré
““Thus we do disagreeable things, but we are defensive. That, I think, is still fair. We do disagreeable things so that ordinary people here and elsewhere can sleep safely in their beds at night. Is that too romantic? Of course, we occasionally do very wicked things”; he grinned like a schoolboy. “And in weighing up the moralities, we rather go in for dishonest comparisons; after all, you can’t compare the ideals of one side with the methods of the other, can you, now?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Little Drummer Girl, 1983
Moral compromises are justified to protect the many, though they blur ethical lines.
In simple terms: Ends may justify means.
Key Takeaway
Question ethical limits.
Themes
ethics
politics
war
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- intelligence work
- policy decisions
- conflict zones
Key Concepts
realpolitik
utilitarianism
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever truly fair?
- What are the hidden costs?
A Different Perspective
Moral ambiguity can erode trust and integrity.
![“This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day [as a Fairfax Justice of the Peace] since I have been at Home. I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.” quote by George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b92/george-mason-8435_bedfellows_this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young_3953.jpg)
