--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The visitor shrugged. \"Like euthanasia?…" description: "\"“The visitor shrugged. \"Like euthanasia? I'm sorry, Father, I feel that the laws of a society are what make something a crime or not a crime. I'm aware..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/walter-m-miller-jr-12438_bad-laws_the-visitor-shrugged-like-euthanasia-i-m_1155845.png" --- # The visitor shrugged. "Like euthanasia? I'm sorry, Father… ![“The visitor shrugged. "Like euthanasia? I'm sorry, Father, I feel that the laws of a society are what make something a crime or not a crime. I'm aware that you don't agree. And there can be bad laws, ill conceived, true. But in this case, I think we have a good law. If I thought I had such a thing…” quote by Walter M. Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/walter-m-miller-jr-12438_bad-laws_the-visitor-shrugged-like-euthanasia-i-m_1155845.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/walter-m-miller-jr-12438_bad-laws_the-visitor-shrugged-like-euthanasia-i-m_1155845.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/walter-m-miller-jr-12438_bad-laws_the-visitor-shrugged-like-euthanasia-i-m_1155845.png) > ““The visitor shrugged. "Like euthanasia? I'm sorry, Father, I feel that the laws of a society are what make something a crime or not a crime. I'm aware that you don't agree. And there can be bad laws, ill conceived, true. But in this case, I think we have a good law. If I thought I had such a thing as a soul, and that there was an angry God in Heaven, I might agree with you.”” [Walter M. Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that laws define crime, not morality, and that a good law can exist even without belief in a soul or divine punishment. **In simple terms:** Laws decide crime, not personal belief. Key Takeaway Question the basis of legal morality. Themes law morality belief society justice Mood thoughtful critical inquisitive Type philosophical ethical literary When to use this quote - courtroom debates - policy making - ethical committees - education - public discourse Key Concepts legal philosophy ethical relativism theology Questions to Reflect On - What makes a law just? - Can law be moral without religion? 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