Ethics Quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein
“If suicide is allowed then everything is allowed. If anything is not allowed then suicide is not allowed. This throws a light on the nature of ethics, for suicide is, so to speak, the elementary sin. And when one investigates it it is like investigating mercury vapour in order to comprehend the nature of vapours.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Oxford University, 1938
If one permits suicide, it opens the door to allowing all actions; denying it imposes limits, highlighting ethics as a boundary‑setting practice.
In simple terms: Allowing suicide suggests no moral limits; denying it sets limits.
Key Takeaway
Consider how ethical boundaries are defined.
Themes
ethics
morality
freedom
law
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal debates
- medical ethics discussions
- personal decision making
- public policy formation
- philosophical counseling
Key Concepts
normative theory
boundary conditions
value judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should society place on personal autonomy?
- How do cultural views affect the ethics of suicide?
A Different Perspective
The argument may oversimplify complex moral contexts and cultural differences.
![“The impersonal aspect [of God] (Nirakara, Nirguna) is called Brahman, or 'unknowable' by Herbert Spencer, 'will' by Schopenhauer, Absolute Noumenon by some 'substance' by Spinoza. The personal aspect (Sakara) of that Being is termed 'Ishvara' or Allah, Hari, Jehova, Father in Heaven, Buddha, Siva…” quote by Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1cf/sivananda-7251_absolutes_the-impersonal-aspect-of-god-nirakara-ni_611295.jpg)
