---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If suicide is allowed then everything is…"
description: "\"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, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_ethics_if-suicide-is-allowed-then-everything-is_2622688.png"
---

#  If suicide is allowed then everything is allowed. If…

![“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…” quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_ethics_if-suicide-is-allowed-then-everything-is_2622688.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_ethics_if-suicide-is-allowed-then-everything-is_2622688.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_ethics_if-suicide-is-allowed-then-everything-is_2622688.png)

> “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.”

[Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

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