Brother Quote by John Steinbeck
“Look now — in all of history men have been taught that killing of men is an evil thing not to be countenanced. Any man who kills must be destroyed because this is a great sin, maybe the worst sin we know. And then we take a soldier and put murder in his hands and we say to him, 'Use it well, use it wisely.' We put no checks on him. Go out and kill as many of a certain kind or classification of your brothers as you can. And we will reward you for it because it is a violation of your early training.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939
The quote critiques how societies paradoxically condemn killing yet empower soldiers to kill, exposing moral hypocrisy in war.
In simple terms: Societies condemn killing but give soldiers permission to kill, revealing hypocrisy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question moral contradictions in war.
Themes
war
morality
hypocrisy
authority
violence
Mood
critical
reflective
somber
Type
ethical
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military training
- political rhetoric
- public opinion
- peace activism
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
just war theory
ethical relativism
social conditioning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societies reconcile moral teachings with wartime actions?
- What mechanisms can prevent the abuse of authority?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes all soldiers are uniformly indoctrinated, ignoring individual agency and dissent.
![“Instead of negotiating or begging for mercy, [my brother Damascene] challenged them to kill him. "Go ahead," he said. "What are you waiting for? Today is my day to go to God. I can feel Him all around us. He is watching, waiting to take me home. Go ahead--finish your work and send me to paradise…” quote by Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb0/immaculee-ilibagiza-24828_compassion_instead-of-negotiating-or-begging-for-me_2822609.jpg)
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
