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About this quote

What does it mean?
A critique suggesting that elite institutions produce destructive technologies despite their pursuit of truth.
In plain terms
Dangerous weapons were made by educated people at a prestigious university.
What can you take from it?
Education without moral direction can cause great harm.

Where it applies

  • academic critique
  • military ethics
  • historical reflection

Putting it to work

  • question institutional goals
  • consider ethical implications
  • critique power

Questions to consider

  • Who is responsible for harmful innovations?
  • Does education guarantee morality?

Another view

It implies a direct causality between a university and a specific weapon without nuance.

More from Kurt Vonnegut

  1. My last words? 'Life is no way to treat an animal, not even a mouse.'

    Permalink to quote #191

  2. Our president is a Christian? So was Adolf Hitler.

    Permalink to quote #193

  3. Shrapnel was invented by an Englishman of the same name. Don't you wish you could have something named after you?

    Permalink to quote #190

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