---
title: "I can forgive Alfred Nobel for inventing dynamite, but only a fiend i… — George Bernard Shaw Quote #209 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "I can forgive Alfred Nobel for inventing dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize. — a quote by George Bernard Shaw."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # I can forgive Alfred Nobel for inventing dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize.

[George Bernard Shaw](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw)\#209

[Ethics](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw/ethics/)[Criticism](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw/criticism/)[Irony](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw/irony/)[Awards](https://quotesby.net/topics/awards/)[Legacy](https://quotesby.net/topics/legacy/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Shaw criticizes the Nobel Prize as a cruel irony for a peace advocate who invented explosives.In plain termsGiving a prize for peace to an inventor of bombs is twisted.What can you take from it?Honors can contradict the original intent of an invention.

### Where it applies

- award ceremonies
- ethical debates
- public criticism

### Putting it to work

- evaluate award criteria
- question legacy
- critique institutions

### Questions to consider

- Should inventors be judged by their tools?
- Is the prize a contradiction?

### Another view

The prize also promotes positive contributions from winners.

## More from George Bernard Shaw

1. > I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

[Permalink to quote \#208](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw/208/ "Permalink to quote 208")
2. > I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig, you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it.

[Permalink to quote \#210](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw/210/ "Permalink to quote 210")
3. > If all the economists in the world were laid end to end, they still wouldn't reach a conclusion.

[Permalink to quote \#207](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw/207/ "Permalink to quote 207")

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