Children Quote by Mark Twain
“If we could imagine such a man, that is a man who could invent the fly and send him out on his mission and furnish him with his orders: Depart into the uttermost corners of the earth and, diligently do your appointed work. Persecute the sick child, settle upon its eyes, its face, its hands, and gnaw and pester and sting, worry and fret and madden the worn and tried mother who watches by the child and humbly prays for mercy and relief with the pathetic faith of the deceived and the unteachable.”
About This Quote
A satirical critique of humanity’s tendency to rationalize cruelty as duty, exposing the moral emptiness of blind obedience to destructive missions.
In simple terms: Blind duty breeds cruelty.
Key Takeaway
Question authority’s moral cost.
Themes
morality
satire
authority
human suffering
illusion of purpose
Mood
cynical
somber
critical
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military orders
- scientific experiments
- bureaucratic mandates
- social movements
Key Concepts
ethical responsibility
power dynamics
psychology of obedience
Practical Applications
- ethical training
- policy review
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to follow orders without moral scrutiny?
- How can societies prevent institutionalized cruelty?
A Different Perspective
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