Action Quote by William Kingdon Clifford
“When an action is once done, it is right or wrong for ever; no accidental failure of its good or evil fruits can possibly alter that.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ethics of Belief, William K. Clifford, 1877
Argues that moral judgments are fixed once an action is performed, immutable by later outcomes.
In simple terms: Moral status of an act does not change after it is done.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge the permanence of moral decisions.
Themes
ethics
philosophy
determinism
Mood
reflective
philosophical
Type
theoretical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- Legal judgments
- personal decisions
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
moral absolutes
consequentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can moral judgments ever be revised?
- What about unintended consequences?
A Different Perspective
Ignores context and growth.
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