--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I venture to maintain that there are…" description: "\"I venture to maintain that there are multitudes to whom the necessity of discharging the duties of a butcher would be so inexpressibly painful and revo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/william-edward-hartpole-lecky_butchers_i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-mul_995896.jpg" --- # I venture to maintain that there are multitudes to whom… ![“I venture to maintain that there are multitudes to whom the necessity of discharging the duties of a butcher would be so inexpressibly painful and revolting, that if they could obtain a flesh diet on no other condition, they would relinquish it forever.” quote by William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/william-edward-hartpole-lecky_butchers_i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-mul_995896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/william-edward-hartpole-lecky_butchers_i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-mul_995896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/william-edward-hartpole-lecky_butchers_i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-mul_995896.jpg) > “I venture to maintain that there are multitudes to whom the necessity of discharging the duties of a butcher would be so inexpressibly painful and revolting, that if they could obtain a flesh diet on no other condition, they would relinquish it forever.” [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that the moral repugnance of killing is so profound that even a necessary diet of meat would be rejected if a humane alternative existed. **In simple terms:** Moral revulsion can outweigh survival needs. Key Takeaway Consider humane alternatives. Themes ethics diet animal rights Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - culinary choices - ethical debates - policy making - personal diet Key Concepts moral philosophy cognitive dissonance compassion Questions to Reflect On - Would you change your diet for ethical reasons? - How do societies justify meat consumption? A Different Perspective Cultural norms may resist change despite moral arguments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Butcher Inexpressibly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butcher-inexpressibly-2069963/) [Butchers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butchers/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Culinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culinary/) [Diets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diets/) [Duties Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties-butcher-2069962/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh/) [Flesh Diet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh-diet-2069964/) [Food choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-choices/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Multitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitudes/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [Painful Revolting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful-revolting-2069961/) [Revolting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolting/) [Vegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegan/) [Vegetarian diet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarian-diet/) [Vegetarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianism/) [Venture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“There again," said Syme irritably, "what is there poetical about being in revolt? You might as well say that it is poetical to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/there-again-said-syme-irritably-what-is-there-poetical-about-being-in/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“I loathe the idea of cutting down trees. Two hundred years of shape and energy all gone in half an hour. It's revolting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/i-loathe-the-idea-of-cutting-down-trees-two-hundred-years-of-shape/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [Comets importing change of times and states, Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky And with them scourge the bad revolting stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/comets-importing-change-of-times-and-states-brandish-your-crystal/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A creature revolting against a creator is revolting against the source of his own powers-including even his power to revolt...It is like the scent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-creature-revolting-against-a-creator-is-revolting-against-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [It's their deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct that is responsible for the disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-helms/it-s-their-deliberate-disgusting-revolting-conduct-that-is/) [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) > [The political spin in Washington is revolting, just revolting. It's a callous political game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bishop/the-political-spin-in-washington-is-revolting-just-revolting-it-s-a/) [Rob Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bishop/) > [ \[T\]he moralists of Europe \[have\] pretended that beasts have no rights... a doctrine revolting/gross/barbarous... on which a native of the Asiatic uplands could not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/t-he-moralists-of-europe-have-pretended-that-beasts-have-no-rights-a/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [There is nothing more revolting than an old busybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/there-is-nothing-more-revolting-than-an-old-busybody/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [Perhaps the most revolting character that the United States ever produced was the Christian business man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/perhaps-the-most-revolting-character-that-the-united-states-ever/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [“The projects are hideous, of course, there being a law, apparently respected throughout the world, that popular housing shall be as cheerless as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/the-projects-are-hideous-of-course-there-being-a-law-apparently/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [The idea of passing one's whole life in moral idleness, and having one's hardest work and duty done by another-whether God or man-is most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/the-idea-of-passing-one-s-whole-life-in-moral-idleness-and-having-one/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Can I just say here how much I hate the word 'pamper'? While pretending to celebrate and indulge women, it actually implies that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/can-i-just-say-here-how-much-i-hate-the-word-pamper-while-pretending/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Why should we think nudity is such a revolting thing in a land where there is so much violence and corruption and racism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/why-should-we-think-nudity-is-such-a-revolting-thing-in-a-land-where/) [Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/) > [I've yet to meet somebody who said, 'Your stories are so revolting I couldn't read them.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-ve-yet-to-meet-somebody-who-said-your-stories-are-so-revolting-i/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I know war as few other men now living know it, and nothing to me is more revolting. I have long advocated its complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-know-war-as-few-other-men-now-living-know-it-and-nothing-to-me-is/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More by William Edward Hartpole Lecky > [Faith always presented to the mind the idea of an abnormal intellectual condition, of the subversion or suspension of the critical faculties. It sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/faith-always-presented-to-the-mind-the-idea-of-an-abnormal/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [There are times in the lives of most of us, when we would have given all the world to be as we were but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/there-are-times-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-when-we-would-have-given/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [ \[Middleton\] contended that the religious leaders of the fourth century had admitted, eulogised, and habitually acted upon principles that were diametrically opposed, not simply… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/middleton-contended-that-the-religious-leaders-of-the-fourth-century/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [Terror is everywhere the beginning of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/terror-is-everywhere-the-beginning-of-religion/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [The moral duty to be expected in different ages is not a unity of standard, or of acts, but a unity of tendency ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/the-moral-duty-to-be-expected-in-different-ages-is-not-a-unity-of/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [The unweary, unostentatious, and inglorious crusade of England against slavery may probably be regarded as among the three or four perfectly virtuous pages comprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/the-unweary-unostentatious-and-inglorious-crusade-of-england-against/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [There is no possible line of conduct which has at some time and place been condemned, and which has not at some other time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/there-is-no-possible-line-of-conduct-which-has-at-some-time-and-place/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [Anxiety and Ennui are the Scylla and Charybdis on which the bark of human happiness is most often wrecked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/anxiety-and-ennui-are-the-scylla-and-charybdis-on-which-the-bark-of/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [“One of the great differences between childhood and manhood is that we come to like our work more than our play. It becomes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/one-of-the-great-differences-between-childhood-and-manhood-is-that-we/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [The doctrine of a material hell in its effect was to chill and deaden the sympathies, predispose men to inflict suffering, and to retard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/the-doctrine-of-a-material-hell-in-its-effect-was-to-chill-and-deaden/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [All over Europe the organs that represent dogmatic interests are in permanent opposition to the progressive tendencies around them, and are rapidly sinking into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/all-over-europe-the-organs-that-represent-dogmatic-interests-are-in/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [The simple record of these three short years of active life has done more to regenerate and soften mankind than all the discourses of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/the-simple-record-of-these-three-short-years-of-active-life-has-done/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [Contraction of theological influence has at once been the best measure, and the essential condition of intellectual advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/contraction-of-theological-influence-has-at-once-been-the-best/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [Fierce invectives against women form a conspicuous and grotesque portion of the writings of the Church fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/fierce-invectives-against-women-form-a-conspicuous-and-grotesque/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [There is no wild beast so ferocious as Christians who differ concerning their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/there-is-no-wild-beast-so-ferocious-as-christians-who-differ/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) [Explore all 42 William Edward Hartpole Lecky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) ## More Butchers quotes > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I go in the butchers and there's not a lot of meat I can eat these days, with having all the animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-o-grady/i-go-in-the-butchers-and-there-s-not-a-lot-of-meat-i-can-eat-these/) [Paul O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-o-grady/) > [One should stick to the sort of thing for which one was made; I tried to be an herbalist, Whereas I should keep to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/one-should-stick-to-the-sort-of-thing-for-which-one-was-made-i-tried/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [I went to the butchers to buy a leg of lamb. "Is it Scotch?", I asked. "Why?" the butcher said in reply. "Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chic-murray/i-went-to-the-butchers-to-buy-a-leg-of-lamb-is-it-scotch-i-asked-why/) [Chic Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chic-murray/) > [Mr. William Shakespeare was born at Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwick. His father was a butcher, and I have been told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aubrey/mr-william-shakespeare-was-born-at-stratford-upon-avon-in-the-county/) [John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-aubrey/) > [What is that in his hand?" "A cleaver. As in-" "Butcher's knife." "You got it." "I hope not." "He does not look happy." "Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-pearson/what-is-that-in-his-hand-a-cleaver-as-in-butcher-s-knife-you-got-it-i/) [Ridley Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-pearson/) > [My grandmother was amazing. She completely believed in me and was very encouraging. She would go to the supermarket or the butcher or wherever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/my-grandmother-was-amazing-she-completely-believed-in-me-and-was-very/) [Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/) > [We look after religion as the butcher did after his knife, when he had it in his mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/we-look-after-religion-as-the-butcher-did-after-his-knife-when-he-had/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [Julian was the son of Diokles of Sparta, also known as Diokles the Butcher. That man made the Marquis de Sade look like Ronald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/julian-was-the-son-of-diokles-of-sparta-also-known-as-diokles-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To see the butcher slap the steak before he laid it on the block, and give his knife a sharpening, was to forget breakfast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/to-see-the-butcher-slap-the-steak-before-he-laid-it-on-the-block-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Just as Americans have discovered the hidden energy costs in a multitude of products-in refrigerating a steak, for example, on its way to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/just-as-americans-have-discovered-the-hidden-energy-costs-in-a/) [Jerry Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/) > [Editing might be a bloody trade. But knives aren't the exclusive property of butchers. Surgeons use them too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-morrison/editing-might-be-a-bloody-trade-but-knives-aren-t-the-exclusive/) [Blake Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-morrison/) > [Remember, when you hear them beginning to say "freedom" look carefully-. see who it is they want you to butcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-comfort/remember-when-you-hear-them-beginning-to-say-freedom-look-carefully/) [Alex Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-comfort/) > [There is not much collective security in a flock of sheep on the way to the butcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/there-is-not-much-collective-security-in-a-flock-of-sheep-on-the-way/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [My wife went into the butchers and said: "You've a sheep's head in your window." The butcher said: "That's a mirror."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carson/my-wife-went-into-the-butchers-and-said-you-ve-a-sheep-s-head-in-your/) [Frank Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carson/) [Browse all 179 Butchers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butchers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I venture to maintain that there are multitudes to whom the necessity of discharging the duties of a butcher would be so inexpressibly painful and revolting, that if they could obtain a flesh diet on no other condition, they would relinquish it forever.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Edward Hartpole Lecky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-multitudes-to-whom-the-necessity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Butchers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-multitudes-to-whom-the-necessity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/william-edward-hartpole-lecky_butchers_i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-mul_995896.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/william-edward-hartpole-lecky_butchers_i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-mul_995896.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/william-edward-hartpole-lecky_butchers_i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-mul_995896.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I venture to maintain that there are multitudes to whom the necessity of discharging the duties of a butcher…” — William Edward Hartpole Lecky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Edward Hartpole Lecky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I venture to maintain that there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-multitudes-to-whom-the-necessity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/i-venture-to-maintain-that-there-are-multitudes-to-whom-the-necessity/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```