Quotation of the Day - 20 August 2004

[Mephisto2]

I have a feeling not everyone will agree with this one...

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

Sallust (86 BC - 34 BC) - Roman historian & politician

Mr Mephisto

[neekap]

Well said, really. What's the modern saying? Two wrongs don't make a right?

[Journeyman]

We must always fear the wicked. But there is another kind of evil that we must fear the most, and that is the indifference of good men.

The Boondock Saints

I disagree with the general notion. Specific instances like, say, holding innocents hostage or murdering them to achieve a noble goal, I can see where he's coming from.

[IShotAndyWarhol]

I'm split on this. On one hand, the general idea of using evil to defeat an injustice seems a little illogical, but you have to ask yourself what Sallust was refering to when he alluded to evil. More than likely it has something to do with some sort of sacrilege, and could very well not extend past the bounds of religious morals, which in my opinion can be pretty damn skewed at times.

So, on the other hand, maybe the achievement of justice through "evil" means isn't so bad after all.

[Toshuno]

Anyone here ever watched Trigun? the whole theme of trigun is about this gunfighter who doesnt kill people. Its really good actually, and this quote is his exact philosophy.

Saying that, in the 2nd last episode he shoots someone to save everyone else, but he feels pretty bad about it afterwards

['47Geezer]

Under what circumstances do you think the end justifies the means? Seems to me that's the real issue raised here, or at least another way of stating it.