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About this quote

What does it mean?
This observation notes the speaker acted against conscience, simply obeying orders.
In plain terms
He knew it was wrong but did it anyway.
What can you take from it?
Following orders against conscience.

Where it applies

  • post-war judgment
  • psychological analysis

Putting it to work

  • studying obedience
  • analyzing war crimes

Questions to consider

  • Can obedience excuse moral failure?
  • What happens when conscience is overridden?

Another view

Acting against conscience is a core element of complicity.

More from Alfred Jodl

  1. But then I ask myself, I have never truly known the man whose flank I have lead one difficult and ascetic life for. Perhaps he has played with my idealism, tak…

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  2. Jodl, betrayer of the traditions of his profession, led the Wehrmacht in violating its own code of military honor in order to carry out the barbarous aims of N…

    Permalink to quote #12
  3. To this very day, I do not know what he (Hitler) thought or knew or really wanted. I only knew my own thoughts and suspicions.

    Permalink to quote #9

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