--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet *…" description: "\"“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet * Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/william-godwin-1978_brothers_godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-followin_142924.jpg" --- # Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet \* Following is an excerpt… ![“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet * Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice”: In a loose and general view I and my neighbour are both of us men; and of consequence entitled to equal attention. But, in reality, it is…” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/william-godwin-1978_brothers_godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-followin_142924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/william-godwin-1978_brothers_godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-followin_142924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/william-godwin-1978_brothers_godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-followin_142924.jpg) > ““Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet \* Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice”: In a loose and general view I and my neighbour are both of us men; and of consequence entitled to equal attention. But, in reality, it is probable that one of us is a being of more worth and importance than the other. A man is of more worth than a beast; because, being possessed of higher faculties, he is capable of a more refined and genuine happiness. In the same manner the illustrious archbishop of Cambray was of more worth than his valet, and there are few of us that would hesitate to pronounce, if his palace were in flames, and the life of only one of them could be preserved, which of the two ought to be preferred. But there is another ground of preference, beside the private consideration of one of them being further removed from the state of a mere animal. We are not connected with one or two percipient beings, but with a society, a nation, and in some sense with the whole family of mankind. Of consequence that life ought to be preferred which will be most conducive to the general good. In saving the life of Fenelon, suppose at the moment he conceived the project of his immortal Telemachus, should have been promoting the benefit of thousands, who have been cured by the perusal of that work of some error, vice and consequent unhappiness. Nay, my benefit would extend further than this; for every individual, thus cured, has become a better member of society, and has contributed in his turn to the happiness, information, and improvement of others. Suppose I had been myself the valet; I ought to have chosen to die, rather than Fenelon should have died. The life of Fenelon was really preferable to that of the valet. But understanding is the faculty that perceives the truth of this and similar propositions; and justice is the principle that regulates my conduct accordingly. It would have been just in the valet to have preferred the archbishop to himself. To have done otherwise would have been a breach of justice. Suppose the valet had been my brother, my father, or my benefactor. This would not alter the truth of the proposition. The life of Fenelon would still be more valuable than that of the valet; and justice, pure, unadulterated justice, would still have preferred that which was most valuable. Justice would have taught me to save the life of Fenelon at the expense of the other. What magic is there in the pronoun “my,” that should justify us in overturning the decisions of impartial truth? My brother or my father may be a fool or a profligate, malicious, lying or dishonest. If they be, of what consequence is it that they are mine?”” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice favors the life that benefits society most, even if it means sacrificing a more valuable individual for the greater good. **In simple terms:** Prefer the life that serves the many. Key Takeaway Choose actions that maximize collective welfare. Themes ethics social responsibility utilitarianism Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - public policy decisions - resource allocation - emergency rescue - medical triage - environmental protection Key Concepts philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - What criteria determine the greater good? - How do we value individual versus collective rights? A Different Perspective Balancing individual worth against societal benefit is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Fenelon Valet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fenelon-valet-1609332/) [Genuine happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine-happiness/) [Godwin Enquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godwin-enquiry-1609329/) [Valet Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valet-justice-1609328/) [Valet Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valet-ought-1609331/) [Valuable Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable-justice-1609330/) [Whole family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-family/) ## Related quotes > [“There's a saying by some great writer or other that no man is a hero to his valet. 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But, in reality, it is probable that one of us is a being of more worth and importance than the other. A man is of more worth than a beast; because, being possessed of higher faculties, he is capable of a more refined and genuine happiness. In the same manner the illustrious archbishop of Cambray was of more worth than his valet, and there are few of us that would hesitate to pronounce, if his palace were in flames, and the life of only one of them could be preserved, which of the two ought to be preferred. But there is another ground of preference, beside the private consideration of one of them being further removed from the state of a mere animal. We are not connected with one or two percipient beings, but with a society, a nation, and in some sense with the whole family of mankind. Of consequence that life ought to be preferred which will be most conducive to the general good. In saving the life of Fenelon, suppose at the moment he conceived the project of his immortal Telemachus, should have been promoting the benefit of thousands, who have been cured by the perusal of that work of some error, vice and consequent unhappiness. Nay, my benefit would extend further than this; for every individual, thus cured, has become a better member of society, and has contributed in his turn to the happiness, information, and improvement of others. Suppose I had been myself the valet; I ought to have chosen to die, rather than Fenelon should have died. The life of Fenelon was really preferable to that of the valet. But understanding is the faculty that perceives the truth of this and similar propositions; and justice is the principle that regulates my conduct accordingly. It would have been just in the valet to have preferred the archbishop to himself. To have done otherwise would have been a breach of justice. Suppose the valet had been my brother, my father, or my benefactor. This would not alter the truth of the proposition. The life of Fenelon would still be more valuable than that of the valet; and justice, pure, unadulterated justice, would still have preferred that which was most valuable. Justice would have taught me to save the life of Fenelon at the expense of the other. What magic is there in the pronoun “my,” that should justify us in overturning the decisions of impartial truth? My brother or my father may be a fool or a profligate, malicious, lying or dishonest. If they be, of what consequence is it that they are mine?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Godwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brothers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/william-godwin-1978_brothers_godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-followin_142924.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/william-godwin-1978_brothers_godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-followin_142924.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/william-godwin-1978_brothers_godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-followin_142924.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet * Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political…” — William Godwin", "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 Godwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/#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 } } ] } ```