Bears Quote by Mark Twain
“The best minds will tell you that when a man has begotten a child he is morally bound to tenderly care for it, protect it from hurt, shield it from disease, clothe it, feed it, bear with its waywardness, lay no hand upon it save in kindness and for its own good, and never in any case inflict upon it a wanton cruelty. God's treatment of his earthly children, every day and every night, is the exact opposite of all that, yet those best minds warmly justify these crimes, condone them, excuse them, and indignantly refuse to regard them as crimes at all, when he commits them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Mysterious Stranger, 1916
The quote condemns the hypocrisy of claiming moral duty to protect children while justifying cruelty by a higher power.
In simple terms: Moral hypocrisy about protecting children.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reject false moral justifications.
Themes
hypocrisy
morality
child protection
religion
power
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- policy making
- religious discourse
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
authority
compassion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we differentiate genuine moral duty from imposed doctrine?
- What responsibilities do societies have to protect the vulnerable?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes a uniform moral standard, which may not exist across cultures.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
