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Against religion Quote by Samuel Johnson

“Sir, he [Bolingbroke] was a scoundrel and a coward: a scoundrel for charging a blunderbuss against religion and morality; a coward, because he had not resolution to fire it off himself, but left half a crown to a beggarly Scotsman to draw the trigger at his death.” quote by Samuel Johnson
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“Sir, he [Bolingbroke] was a scoundrel and a coward: a scoundrel for charging a blunderbuss against religion and morality; a coward, because he had not resolution to fire it off himself, but left half a crown to a beggarly Scotsman to draw the trigger at his death.”

Samuel Johnson

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Idler, 1759

Bolingbroke is called a coward for hiring a Scotsman to fire a weapon for him, showing moral cowardice.

In simple terms: Hiring others to do dangerous deeds shows lack of courage.

Key Takeaway

Take responsibility for one's actions.

Themes

morality courage politics character responsibility

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

ethical political

When to use this quote

  • leadership
  • decision making
  • public service
  • ethical debates

Key Concepts

ethical philosophy political critique personal integrity

Questions to Reflect On

  • When is it acceptable to delegate risky actions?
  • What defines true courage in leadership?
A Different Perspective

Delegating dangerous tasks can be pragmatic, not always cowardly.

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