--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Again, defenders of utility often find…" description: "\"“Again, defenders of utility often find themselves called upon to reply to such objections as this—that there is not time, previous to action, for calc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-stuart-mill-477_christianity_again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-th_3173222.png" --- # Again, defenders of utility often find themselves called… ![“Again, defenders of utility often find themselves called upon to reply to such objections as this—that there is not time, previous to action, for calculating and weighing the effects of any line of conduct on the general happiness. This is exactly as if any one were to say that it is impossible to…” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-stuart-mill-477_christianity_again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-th_3173222.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-stuart-mill-477_christianity_again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-th_3173222.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-stuart-mill-477_christianity_again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-th_3173222.png) > ““Again, defenders of utility often find themselves called upon to reply to such objections as this—that there is not time, previous to action, for calculating and weighing the effects of any line of conduct on the general happiness. This is exactly as if any one were to say that it is impossible to guide our conduct by Christianity, because there is not time, on every occasion on which anything has to be done, to read through the Old and New Testaments.”” [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral decisions must consider overall happiness, not wait for exhaustive calculations before acting. **In simple terms:** Act without endless analysis, aiming for overall good. Key Takeaway Balance quick action with thoughtful impact assessment. Themes ethics utilitarianism decisionmaking Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - policy drafting - emergency response - daily moral choices Key Concepts consequentialism social welfare pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - How can we efficiently assess outcomes in fast‑moving situations? - What safeguards ensure quick decisions remain ethical? A Different Perspective Neglecting thorough analysis can lead to unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-time-5785151/) [Conduct Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conduct-christianity-5785152/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [Objections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objections/) [Objections Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objections-time-5470750/) [Old and new](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-and-new/) [Reply Objections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reply-objections-5785153/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Your objections. It’s time to discuss what it’s going to take to get you beneath me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/your-objections-it-s-time-to-discuss-what-it-s-going-to-take-to-get/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“Instead of distinct old and new media, what we have is a complex cultural ecosystem that spans the analog and digital, encompassing physical places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/instead-of-distinct-old-and-new-media-what-we-have-is-a-complex/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [The books in Mo and Meggie's house were stacked under tables, on chairs, in the corners of the rooms. There where books in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/the-books-in-mo-and-meggie-s-house-were-stacked-under-tables-on/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [The combination of old and new is what every wrestling organization should be like. That way, you have a chance to match up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-rhodes/the-combination-of-old-and-new-is-what-every-wrestling-organization/) [Dusty Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-rhodes/) > [“After Jesus showed up, the Old Testament basically became a way for Bible publishers to keep their word count up. Of course, just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/after-jesus-showed-up-the-old-testament-basically-became-a-way-for/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It's time for a new National Anthem. America is divided into two definite divisions. The easy thing to cop out with is sayin' black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/it-s-time-for-a-new-national-anthem-america-is-divided-into-two/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [If Vin Scully calling a game is just as good in 2013 as he was in 1963, that's the way a game should sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-vin-scully-calling-a-game-is-just-as-good-in-2013-as-he-was-in/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sherman/i-believe-that-there-is-one-only-living-and-true-god-existing-in/) [Roger Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-sherman/) > [At the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes-an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/at-the-heart-of-science-is-an-essential-balance-between-two-seemingly/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Old and new make the warp and woof of every moment. There is no thread that is not a twist of these two strands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/old-and-new-make-the-warp-and-woof-of-every-moment-there-is-no-thread-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All my stories are like the Greek and Roman myths, and the Egyptian myths, and the Old and New Testament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/all-my-stories-are-like-the-greek-and-roman-myths-and-the-egyptian/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“(We) consist of everything the world consists of, each of us, and just as our body contains the genealogical table of evolution as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/we-consist-of-everything-the-world-consists-of-each-of-us-and-just-as/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The revolutionary process by which all books, old and new, in all languages, will soon be available digitally, at practically no cost for storage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-epstein/the-revolutionary-process-by-which-all-books-old-and-new-in-all/) [Jason Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-epstein/) > [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/) [Richard Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-keyes/) > [“Old and new make the warp and woof of every moment. There is no thread that is not a twist of these two strands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emerson/old-and-new-make-the-warp-and-woof-of-every-moment-there-is-no-thread/) [Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emerson/) ## More by John Stuart Mill > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Liberty lies in the rights of that person whose views you find most odious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/liberty-lies-in-the-rights-of-that-person-whose-views-you-find-most/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Truth emerges from the clash of adverse ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/truth-emerges-from-the-clash-of-adverse-ideas/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“No longer enslaved or made dependent by force of law, the great majority are so by force of poverty; they are still chained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/no-longer-enslaved-or-made-dependent-by-force-of-law-the-great/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [All acts suppose certain dispositions, and habits of mind and heart, which may be in themselves states of enjoyment or of wretchedness, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/all-acts-suppose-certain-dispositions-and-habits-of-mind-and-heart/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Unfortunately for the good sense of mankind, the fact of their fallibility is far from carrying the weight in their practical judgement, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/unfortunately-for-the-good-sense-of-mankind-the-fact-of-their/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“In history, as in traveling, men usually see only what they already had in their own minds; and few learn much from history, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/in-history-as-in-traveling-men-usually-see-only-what-they-already-had/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [All errors which a man is likely to commit against advice are far outweighed by the evil of allowing others to constrain him for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/all-errors-which-a-man-is-likely-to-commit-against-advice-are-far/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/every-great-movement-must-experience-three-stages-ridicule-discussion/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The successful conduct of an industrial enterprise requires two quite distinct qualifications: fidelity and zeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-successful-conduct-of-an-industrial-enterprise-requires-two-quite/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [ “\[For people\] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opinion-because-they-are-sure/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [This is what writers mean when they say that the notion of cause involves the idea of necessity. If there be any meaning which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/this-is-what-writers-mean-when-they-say-that-the-notion-of-cause/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“Protection, therefore, against tyranny of the magistrate is not enough: there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling; against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/protection-therefore-against-tyranny-of-the-magistrate-is-not-enough/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Landlords grow rich in their sleep without working, risking or economizing. The increase in the value of land, arising as it does from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/landlords-grow-rich-in-their-sleep-without-working-risking-or/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [There is one characteristic of the present direction of public opinion, peculiarly calculated to make it intolerant of any marked demonstration of individuality. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/there-is-one-characteristic-of-the-present-direction-of-public/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) [Explore all 524 John Stuart Mill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Again, defenders of utility often find themselves called upon to reply to such objections as this—that there is not time, previous to action, for calculating and weighing the effects of any line of conduct on the general happiness. This is exactly as if any one were to say that it is impossible to guide our conduct by Christianity, because there is not time, on every occasion on which anything has to be done, to read through the Old and New Testaments.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Stuart Mill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-themselves-called-upon-to-reply/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-themselves-called-upon-to-reply/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-stuart-mill-477_christianity_again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-th_3173222.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-stuart-mill-477_christianity_again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-th_3173222.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/john-stuart-mill-477_christianity_again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-th_3173222.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Again, defenders of utility often find themselves called upon to reply to such objections as this—that there…” — John Stuart Mill", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Stuart Mill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Again, defenders of utility often find...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-themselves-called-upon-to-reply/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/again-defenders-of-utility-often-find-themselves-called-upon-to-reply/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```