--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humanity is a good thing. Perhaps we can…" description: "\"“Humanity is a good thing. Perhaps we can arrange the murder of a sizable number of people to save it.”\" — Kenneth Patchen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/kenneth-patchen-10815_good-thing_humanity-is-a-good-thing-perhaps-we-can_1958131.png" --- # Humanity is a good thing. Perhaps we can arrange the… ![“Humanity is a good thing. Perhaps we can arrange the murder of a sizable number of people to save it.” quote by Kenneth Patchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/kenneth-patchen-10815_good-thing_humanity-is-a-good-thing-perhaps-we-can_1958131.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/kenneth-patchen-10815_good-thing_humanity-is-a-good-thing-perhaps-we-can_1958131.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/kenneth-patchen-10815_good-thing_humanity-is-a-good-thing-perhaps-we-can_1958131.png) > ““Humanity is a good thing. Perhaps we can arrange the murder of a sizable number of people to save it.”” [Kenneth Patchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-patchen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, listen then. On the other side, fresh young lives thrown away for want of help and by thousands, on every side! 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Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [“I took that warm feeling running through my veins as a good thing and embraced the darkness for I knew it was only temporary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/i-took-that-warm-feeling-running-through-my-veins-as-a-good-thing-and/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [If good things come to those who wait then I must have something ridiculously awesome coming!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-then-i-must-have-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [IVE LEARNED THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU , ALL THE TIME, IS TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/ive-learned-the-best-way-for-you-to-have-good-things-happen-to-you/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“These are all good things, I said. 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