Cassandra-and-tom Quote by Lisa Kleypas
““You can say whatever you like to me. I make no moral judgments." Cassandra was slow to reply, momentarily distracted by his eyes. They were blue with dapples of brilliant green around the pupils, but one eye had far more green than the other. "Everyone makes judgments," she said in response to his statement. "I don't. My sense of right and wrong is different from most people's. You could say I'm a moral nihilist." "What's that?" "Someone who believes nothing is innately right or wrong." "Oh, that's dreadful," she exclaimed. "I know," he said, looking apologetic. Perhaps some gently bred young women would have been shocked, but Cassandra was accustomed to unconventional people. She'd grown up with Pandora, whose twisty-turny, hippy-hoppity brain had enlivened an unbearably secluded life. In fact, Mr. Severin possessed a kind of contained energy that reminded her a little of Pandora. One could see it in the eyes, the quicksilver workings of a mind that ran faster than those of other people.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Duchess Deal”, 2017
A character declares moral nihilism, rejecting absolute right‑and‑wrong, highlighting personal moral relativism.
In simple terms: She claims nothing is inherently right or wrong.
Question your own moral assumptions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- ethical debates
- personal relationships
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you agree that morals are purely subjective?
- How does this view affect interpersonal trust?
Moral nihilism can lead to ethical ambiguity.