I can only be responsible for my orders. I cannot be responsible for all the acts of Himmler.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker limits his responsibility to only the orders he received, excluding responsibility for broader actions by leaders.
- In plain terms
- I am only responsible for my own orders, not everything Himmler did.
- What can you take from it?
- Following orders is often used to deny responsibility for larger harms.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does following orders excuse harmful actions?
- Where does personal responsibility begin?
Another view
Limiting responsibility to direct orders ignores the moral weight of participation.
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