Causes Quote by Poul Anderson
“A fanatic's willingness to kill or be killed in the service of a cause cannot prove the rightness of that cause.”
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Long Remembered War,” 1965
Violence in support of a cause doesn’t validate that cause.
In simple terms: Murder for a cause isn’t proof of its righteousness.
Key Takeaway
Judge causes by ethics, not actions.
Themes
ethics
political violence
justice
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- military conflict
- ideological debate
Key Concepts
moral justification
cause legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a just cause?
- How to oppose harmful causes peacefully?
A Different Perspective
Violent actions can obscure moral truth.
![“Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from ear to ear. So I don’t want to mess up, [be]cause she’s smiling. Seeing my mom happy is kind of like an overwhelming feeling.” quote by Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/477/chris-brown-1887_causes_well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-w_4699.jpg)