Abhorrent Quote by William Booth
“There are men so incorrigibly lazy that no inducement that you can offer will tempt them to work; so eaten up by vice that virtue is abhorrent to them, and so inveterately dishonest that theft is to them a master passion. When a human being has reached that stage, there is only one course that can be rationally pursued. Sorrowfully, but remorselessly, it must be recognized that he has become lunatic, morally demented, incapable of self-government, and that upon him, therefore, must be passed the sentence of permanent seclusion from a world in which he is not fit to be at large.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Autobiography of William Booth, 1900
A person so deeply lazy, immoral, and dishonest cannot be reformed and must be isolated for society’s safety.
In simple terms: Extremely immoral people cannot be helped and must be excluded.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and protect society from irredeemable individuals.
Themes
morality
justice
social order
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- prison reform
- community safety
- legal policy
- mental health assessments
Key Concepts
dehumanization
punishment
ethical limits
Questions to Reflect On
- Can any intervention truly change such a person?
- Is permanent seclusion ethically justified?
A Different Perspective
Societal exclusion may ignore potential for rehabilitation.
