Quote by Kurt Vonnegut
““He supposed that the intent of the Gospels was to teach people, among other things, to be merciful, even to the lowest of the low. But the Gospels actually taught this: Before you kill somebody, make absolutely sure he isn’t well connected.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Cat's Cradle, 1963
He satirically suggests that moral teachings are often twisted by self‑interest, implying that people prioritize connections over ethical imperatives.
In simple terms: People often let personal ties override moral duties.
Key Takeaway
Question the influence of relationships on ethical choices.
Themes
morality
hypocrisy
power
relationships
Mood
cynical
ironic
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- ethical training
- literary critique
- media commentary
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
social dynamics
political satire
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever prioritize personal connections over right actions?
- How can we guard against bias in moral decisions?
A Different Perspective
The humor may downplay genuine moral dilemmas.
![“It was The Gospel From Outer Space, by Kilgore Trout. It was about a visitor from outer space...[who] made a serious study of Christianity, to learn, if he could, why Christians found it so easy to be cruel. He concluded that at least part of the trouble was slipshod storytelling in the New…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e53/kurt-vonnegut-41_bible_it-was-the-gospel-from-outer-space-by-ki_77926.jpg)
![“It was The Gospel From Outer Space, by Kilgore Trout. It was about a visitor from outer space... [who] made a serious study of Christianity, to learn, if he could, why Christians found it so easy to be cruel. He concluded that at least part of the trouble was slipshod storytelling in the New…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/93d/kurt-vonnegut-41_bible_it-was-the-gospel-from-outer-space-by-ki_1230081.jpg)
![“Thomas Jefferson High School [..] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on the subject of human liberty.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73a/kurt-vonnegut-41_freedom_thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-sc_9727.jpg)
