--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may be considered folly by common…" description: "\"“It may be considered folly by common opinion but this refusal to destroy life unnecessarily, this reverence for it, must become a deeply implanted par..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/paul-brunton-7860_ethics_it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opi_361016.jpg" --- # It may be considered folly by common opinion but this… ![“It may be considered folly by common opinion but this refusal to destroy life unnecessarily, this reverence for it, must become a deeply implanted part of his ethical standard.” quote by Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/paul-brunton-7860_ethics_it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opi_361016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/paul-brunton-7860_ethics_it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opi_361016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/paul-brunton-7860_ethics_it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opi_361016.jpg) > ““It may be considered folly by common opinion but this refusal to destroy life unnecessarily, this reverence for it, must become a deeply implanted part of his ethical standard.”” [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates a deep, inherent respect for life, arguing that avoiding unnecessary harm should be central to one's ethics. **In simple terms:** Respect life, avoid needless harm. Key Takeaway Make reverence for life a core ethical principle. Themes ethics compassion non‑violence respect Mood reflective serious Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - medical decisions - dietary choices - animal welfare - conflict resolution Key Concepts Moral philosophy environmental ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed reverence for life into daily choices? - What obstacles arise when refusing to harm unnecessarily? A Different Perspective Societal norms often prioritize convenience over reverence for life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence/) [Vegetarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianism/) ## Related quotes > [People be causing drama in my life. Unnecessarily. 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Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [Vegetarianism preserves live, health, peace, the ecology, creates a more equitable distribution of resources, helps to feed the hungry, encourages nonviolence for the animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-cousens/vegetarianism-preserves-live-health-peace-the-ecology-creates-a-more/) [Gabriel Cousens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-cousens/) > [The idea of vegetarianism is of immense value; it is based on great reverence for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-idea-of-vegetarianism-is-of-immense-value-it-is-based-on-great/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Hitler was a vegetarian. Just goes to show, vegetarianism, not always a good thing. 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We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More by Paul Brunton > [Worry is spiritual short sight... Its cure is intelligent faith...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/worry-is-spiritual-short-sight-its-cure-is-intelligent-faith/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [“The philosophic outlook rises above all sectarian controversy. It finds its own position not only by appreciating and synthesizing what is solidly based in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/the-philosophic-outlook-rises-above-all-sectarian-controversy-it/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [“The mysterious manner in which this growing sense of unity commingles with a sense of utter goodness is worth noting. 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We imagine that we are disillusioned with life, when the truth is that we have not even begun to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/our-greatest-illusion-is-disillusion-we-imagine-that-we-are/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [The seeker after stillness should be told that the stillness is always there. Indeed it is in every man. But he has to learn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/the-seeker-after-stillness-should-be-told-that-the-stillness-is/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [Although the pure truth has never been stated, nevertheless it has never been lost. Its existence does not depend upon human statement but upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/although-the-pure-truth-has-never-been-stated-nevertheless-it-has/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [Whoever lives in the spirit lives in perennial peace. It is a happy peace, a smiling peace, but one is not lost in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/whoever-lives-in-the-spirit-lives-in-perennial-peace-it-is-a-happy/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [“It is often advisable to be one's own guide, studying worthy books, using prayer and reflection, and following the intuitive guidance of one's Higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/it-is-often-advisable-to-be-one-s-own-guide-studying-worthy-books/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) [Explore all 86 Paul Brunton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) ## More Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) Valdemar W Setzer > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It may be considered folly by common opinion but this refusal to destroy life unnecessarily, this reverence for it, must become a deeply implanted part of his ethical standard.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Brunton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opinion-but-this-refusal-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ethics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opinion-but-this-refusal-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/paul-brunton-7860_ethics_it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opi_361016.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/paul-brunton-7860_ethics_it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opi_361016.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/paul-brunton-7860_ethics_it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opi_361016.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It may be considered folly by common opinion but this refusal to destroy life unnecessarily, this reverence…” — Paul Brunton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Brunton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It may be considered folly by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opinion-but-this-refusal-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/it-may-be-considered-folly-by-common-opinion-but-this-refusal-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```