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About this quote

What does it mean?
Heinlein contrasts senseless killing with hatred-driven killing to categorize violence.
In plain terms
Killing for pleasure or hate marks different moral failures.
What can you take from it?
Distinguish motives behind violence.

Where it applies

  • criminal profiling
  • ethical discussion
  • war

Putting it to work

  • analyzing violence
  • understanding evil

Questions to consider

  • Why do people kill?
  • What defines a brute?

Another view

Motives can be complex and mixed.

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