--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You might hold an ethical position that…" description: "\"You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie, but if you have plans for a war in Iraq, and you want to keep them secret for practical reas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/peter-singer-1001_good_you-might-hold-an-ethical-position-that_588033.jpg" --- # You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie… ![“You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie, but if you have plans for a war in Iraq, and you want to keep them secret for practical reasons - to reduce casualties, perhaps - and someone asks you about those plans, you may need to lie for a 'good' outcome.” quote by Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/peter-singer-1001_good_you-might-hold-an-ethical-position-that_588033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/peter-singer-1001_good_you-might-hold-an-ethical-position-that_588033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/peter-singer-1001_good_you-might-hold-an-ethical-position-that_588033.jpg) > “You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie, but if you have plans for a war in Iraq, and you want to keep them secret for practical reasons - to reduce casualties, perhaps - and someone asks you about those plans, you may need to lie for a 'good' outcome.” [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sometimes lying can be justified to prevent greater harm, especially in wartime decisions. **In simple terms:** Lying may be okay to save lives. Key Takeaway Consider consequences before truth. Themes ethics war truth Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political negotiations - military strategy - journalism - diplomacy Key Concepts utilitarianism moral dilemmas just war Questions to Reflect On - Is the end always justified by the means? - How can we balance transparency and security? A Different Perspective Lying can erode trust and set dangerous precedents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Lie Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-good-324683/) [Lie Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-plans-4818788/) [Need Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-lie-250907/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Plans War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans-war-2504531/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) [Wrong Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-lie-411847/) ## Related quotes > [But inwardly we are as corrupt as the person who sits in an office and plans war-because, we want to be somebody in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/but-inwardly-we-are-as-corrupt-as-the-person-who-sits-in-an-office/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [We have contingency plans for war, but none for peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-c-sorensen/we-have-contingency-plans-for-war-but-none-for-peace/) [Theodore C. Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-c-sorensen/) > [“Children need the lie to be brave enough to sleep in their beds; parents need it to be able to get up the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/children-need-the-lie-to-be-brave-enough-to-sleep-in-their-beds/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [“One ought always to lie, when one can do good by it;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-ought-always-to-lie-when-one-can-do-good-by-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“There is a lie that acts like a virus within the mind of humanity. 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