Behinds Quote by Mary McCarthy
“The horror of Gandhi's murder lies not in the political motives behind it or in its consequences for Indian policy or for the future of non-violence; the horror lies simply in the fact that any man could look into the face of this extraordinary person and deliberately pull a trigger.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 1965
The tragedy of Gandhi’s assassination is that an ordinary person could kill a moral leader, showing humanity’s capacity for evil.
In simple terms: Gandhi’s death shows ordinary people can commit terrible acts.
Key Takeaway
Guard against complacency about moral responsibility.
Themes
ethics
violence
leadership
human nature
history
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- community dialogue
- media reporting
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
political violence
psychology of aggression
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we share in preventing violence?
- How can societies protect moral leaders?
A Different Perspective
It may ignore systemic factors enabling such acts.
![“She considered [her] life, which had not been a life but only a sort of greeting, a Hello There.” quote by Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/354/mary-mccarthy-2691_considered_she-considered-her-life-which-had-not-be_53594.jpg)
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
