--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people think that in order to lead a…" description: "\"Some people think that in order to lead a morally decent life one may sometimes have to forego the possibility of having a good life oneself. Even if t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/samuel-scheffler-59641_authority_some-people-think-that-in-order-to-lead_3180293.jpg" --- # Some people think that in order to lead a morally decent… ![“Some people think that in order to lead a morally decent life one may sometimes have to forego the possibility of having a good life oneself. Even if that is true, it does not render morality incredible, but it does raise a question about morality's authority: about what one has most reason to do…” quote by Samuel Scheffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/samuel-scheffler-59641_authority_some-people-think-that-in-order-to-lead_3180293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/samuel-scheffler-59641_authority_some-people-think-that-in-order-to-lead_3180293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/samuel-scheffler-59641_authority_some-people-think-that-in-order-to-lead_3180293.jpg) > “Some people think that in order to lead a morally decent life one may sometimes have to forego the possibility of having a good life oneself. Even if that is true, it does not render morality incredible, but it does raise a question about morality's authority: about what one has most reason to do when one is faced with a conflict of this kind.” [Samuel Scheffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-scheffler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral duty may require sacrificing personal happiness, raising questions about the source and limits of moral authority. **In simple terms:** Doing what’s right can mean giving up personal good. Key Takeaway Consider the balance between moral duty and personal well‑being. Themes ethics morality self‑sacrifice authority Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - Ethical decision‑making - personal sacrifice - public policy Key Concepts Moral conflict philosophical reasoning life choices Questions to Reflect On - What should be the priority: personal happiness or moral duty? - How do we justify moral authority? A Different Perspective Moral expectations can be overly demanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-life/) [Incredibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibles/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lead Morally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-morally-5824685/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-authority-5824684/) [Morally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morally/) [Morally Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morally-decent-757441/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Question Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-morality-880701/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If there is a God, you owe him far more than a morally decent life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-there-is-a-god-you-owe-him-far-more-than-a-morally-decent-life/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [It seems to me morally a decent society will try to take some of the increased benefit and use that to alleviate the pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-bishop/it-seems-to-me-morally-a-decent-society-will-try-to-take-some-of-the/) [Tim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-bishop/) > [“If there is a God, you owe him far more than a morally decent life. He deserves to be at the center of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-there-is-a-god-you-owe-him-far-more-than-a-morally-decent-life-he/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [My take on the torture thing and even drones is: If we're going to get into assassination and torture, the second question is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baer/my-take-on-the-torture-thing-and-even-drones-is-if-we-re-going-to-get/) [Robert Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baer/) > [“Make dressing a question of taste and attractiveness instead of a question of morality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/make-dressing-a-question-of-taste-and-attractiveness-instead-of-a/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [There was never any question about the morality of hunting, but neither was there any acceptance of killing for the sake of a trophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-was-never-any-question-about-the-morality-of-hunting-but/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Remorse overwhelmed the old man. He had indeed been foolish to agree to allow this game to dictate the outcome of their dispute. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-b-boyer/remorse-overwhelmed-the-old-man-he-had-indeed-been-foolish-to-agree/) [Dennis B. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-b-boyer/) > [“Education is fundamentally religious. Consequently, there is no question about whether a morality will be imposed in that education, but rather which morality will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/education-is-fundamentally-religious-consequently-there-is-no/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [Conservation is not merely a question of morality, but a question of our own survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/conservation-is-not-merely-a-question-of-morality-but-a-question-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [... the average Catholic perceives no connection between religion and morality, unless it is a question of someone else's morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/the-average-catholic-perceives-no-connection-between-religion-and/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [ Nineteen thousand children \[are\] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-every-day-does-it-really-matter/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I think that slavery is wrong, morally, socially and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-think-that-slavery-is-wrong-morally-socially-and-politically-i/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we're being told to do stupid or cruel things, then it is morally correct to disobey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/if-we-re-being-told-to-do-stupid-or-cruel-things-then-it-is-morally/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [What's to become of the morally sound? Left out in the cold, I suppose. We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) ## More by Samuel Scheffler > [Philosophical questions and modes of thought just seem natural to me. They mesh with the way my mind works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-scheffler/philosophical-questions-and-modes-of-thought-just-seem-natural-to-me/) [Samuel Scheffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-scheffler/) > [We are all seeking to live up to normative standards that we recognize, even if we don't all recognize the same standards. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-scheffler/we-are-all-seeking-to-live-up-to-normative-standards-that-we/) [Samuel Scheffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-scheffler/) > [Tolerance is an essential value in the modern world, and we have daily reminders of how awful the alternatives to it are. 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Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. 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Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people think that in order to lead a morally decent life one may sometimes have to forego the possibility of having a good life oneself. 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