Honour thy parents; that is, all From whom advancement may befall: Thou shalt not kill; but need'st not strive Officiously to keep alive.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker twists religious commandments to advise seeking only useful connections and avoiding unnecessary care for the vulnerable.
- In plain terms
- Honor only useful parents and don't bother keeping the dying alive.
- What can you take from it?
- Morality can be twisted for self-interest.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where do you draw the line?
- When is duty optional?
Another view
It mocks genuine ethical struggles by exaggeration.
More from Arthur Hugh Clough
No graven images may be Worshipped, except the currency.
Permalink to quote #23 Thou shalt not covet, but tradition Approves all forms of competition.
Permalink to quote #25 In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly, But westward, look, the land is bright.
Permalink to quote #22
Related quotes
The world isn't fair, but as long as it's tilting in my direction I find that there's a natural cap to my righteous indignation.
Scott AdamsScott Adams quote #4 You shall not covet thy neighbor's wife? Well, how about if she goddamn covets me? What do you think about that?
Gene SimmonsGene Simmons quote #8 Will springs from the two elements of moral sense and self-interest.
Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln quote #15