Conquest Quote by Laozi
“To delight in conquest is to delight in slaughter.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Tao Te Ching by Laozi, c. 400 BC
Finding pleasure in domination equates to enjoying the violence it entails, revealing moral paradoxes of power.
In simple terms: Enjoying conquest means enjoying killing.
Key Takeaway
Beware glorifying violence.
Themes
power
morality
violence
paradox
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- military strategy
- media narratives
- personal ambition
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does power corrupt your sense of joy?
- Can you separate achievement from harm?
A Different Perspective
Violent outcomes may be unavoidable in conflict.
![“[regarding US conquest of the Philippines] "I turn green in bed at midnight if I think of the horror of a year's warfare in the Philippines [...] We must slaughter a million or two foolish Malays in order to give them the comforts of flannel petticoats and electric railways.” quote by Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/437/henry-adams-1542_bed_regarding-us-conquest-of-the-philippines_482855.jpg)
