--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's to be believed? Or does it matter…" description: "\"What's to be believed? Or does it matter at all? When mass murder's been answered with mass murder, rape with rape, hate with hate, there's no longer m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_asian_what-s-to-be-believed-or-does-it-matter_569794.jpg" --- # What's to be believed? Or does it matter at all? When mass… ![“What's to be believed? Or does it matter at all? When mass murder's been answered with mass murder, rape with rape, hate with hate, there's no longer much meaning in asking whose ax is bloodier. Evil, on evil, piled on evil. Was there any justification in our 'police action' in space? How can we…” quote by Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_asian_what-s-to-be-believed-or-does-it-matter_569794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_asian_what-s-to-be-believed-or-does-it-matter_569794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_asian_what-s-to-be-believed-or-does-it-matter_569794.jpg) > “What's to be believed? Or does it matter at all? When mass murder's been answered with mass murder, rape with rape, hate with hate, there's no longer much meaning in asking whose ax is bloodier. Evil, on evil, piled on evil. Was there any justification in our 'police action' in space? How can we know? Certainly there was no justification for what they did - or was there? We only know what that thing says, and that thing is a captive. The Asian radio has to say what will least displease it's government; ours has to say what will least displease our fine patriotic opinionated rabble, which is what, coincidentally, the government wants it to say anyhow, so where's the difference?” [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions the moral justification of violence and the cyclical nature of evil, suggesting that endless retaliation erodes meaning and truth. **In simple terms:** Violence be itself, making justification impossible. Key Takeaway Recognize the futility of endless retaliation. Themes morality violence justice truth politics Mood cynical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - war - political discourse - media analysis - human rights activism Key Concepts ethical relativism cycle of revenge propaganda Questions to Reflect On - Can any action be truly justified in a cycle of evil? - How does propaganda shape our moral judgments? A Different Perspective The perspective may overlook the possibility of principled resistance or defensive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) ## Related quotes > [What's to be believed? Or does it matter at all? 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Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > […to abuse the intellect for reasons of pride, vanity, or escape from responsibility, is the fruit of that same tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/to-abuse-the-intellect-for-reasons-of-pride-vanity-or-escape-from/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Because a doubt is not a denial. Doubt is a powerful tool, and it should be applied to history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/because-a-doubt-is-not-a-denial-doubt-is-a-powerful-tool-and-it/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [The trouble with being a priest was that you eventually had to take the advice you gave to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-trouble-with-being-a-priest-was-that-you-eventually-had-to-take/) [Walter M. 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