Men Said Quote by Voltaire
““Men,” said he “must, in some things, have deviated from their original innocence; for they were not born wolves, and yet they worry one another like those beasts of prey. God never gave them twenty– four pounders nor bayonets, and yet they have made cannon and bayonets to destroy one another. To this account I might add not only bankruptcies, but the law which seizes on the effects of bankrupts, only to cheat the creditors.” “All this was indispensably necessary,” replied the one–eyed doctor, “for private misfortunes are public benefits; so that the more private misfortunes there are, the greater is the general good.””
About This Quote
Source Philosophical essay, 1765
Human nature is flawed; private misfortunes become public benefits through systemic exploitation.
In simple terms: Human flaws lead to societal exploitation.
Key Takeaway
Guard against systemic abuse.
Themes
human nature
ethics
economics
Mood
critical
philosophical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- lawmaking
- social policy
- economics
Key Concepts
exploitation
public good
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we protect the vulnerable?
- What reforms prevent exploitation?
A Different Perspective
Moral justification can hide self‑interest.
