Chemical warfare Quote by Wendell Berry
““How would you describe the difference between modern war and modern industry—between, say, bombing and strip mining, or between chemical warfare and chemical manufacturing? The difference seems to be only that in war the victimization of humans is directly intentional and in industry it is “accepted” as a “trade-off.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Peaceable Kingdom,” 1972
The quote contrasts intentional human harm in war with accepted collateral damage in industry, highlighting moral inconsistency.
In simple terms: War harms people on purpose; industry accepts harm as a cost.
Key Takeaway
Question the ethics of accepted industrial harms.
Themes
ethics
environment
war
industry
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political
environmental
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- environmental activism
- corporate responsibility
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
environmental impact
industrial practices
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes industrial harm seem acceptable?
- Can war and industry be judged by the same moral standards?
A Different Perspective
Oversimplifies complex economic and technological factors.
![“Rather than comparing [war] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities; and it is still closer to politics, which in turn may be considered as a kind of commerce on a larger scale.” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c35/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_activity_rather-than-comparing-war-to-art-we-coul_21236.jpg)
![“[from an excerpt by her daughter Camille] Living on the land that has grown my food gives me a sense of security I'm lucky to have. Feeling safe isn't so easy for people my age, who face odious threats like global warming, overpopulation, and chemical warfare in our future. But even as the world…” quote by Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f87/barbara-kingsolver-200_chemical-warfare_from-an-excerpt-by-her-daughter-camille_615587.jpg)
