Good thing Quote by Kenneth Patchen
““Humanity is a good thing. Perhaps we can arrange the murder of a sizable number of people to save it.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Man Who Said No” by Kenneth Patchen, 1935
The quote suggests that sacrificing many lives might be justified to preserve humanity, reflecting a utilitarian, controversial moral calculus.
In simple terms: Saving humanity may require terrible sacrifices.
Key Takeaway
Consider the cost of extreme solutions.
Themes
ethics
utilitarianism
humanity
violence
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- War decisions
- public policy
- environmental crises
- pandemic response
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
population ethics
extreme utilitarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever moral to sacrifice many for the many?
- What safeguards prevent abuse of this logic?
A Different Perspective
Such reasoning can ignore individual rights and lead to atrocities.
