If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible, although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances. Neither of them thinks anything of their pledged word.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Truman describes a coldly pragmatic strategy of letting Germany and Russia weaken each other during the war.
- In plain terms
- I would help whoever is losing so they destroy each other.
- What can you take from it?
- Strategic alliances are sometimes about mutual destruction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is sacrificing one group acceptable for greater goals?
- How do you weigh moral costs in strategy?
Another view
This mindset ignores human suffering.
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