Quote by George Santayana, Persons and Pl

It would repel me less to be a hangman than a soldier, because the one is obliged to put to death only criminals sentenced by the law, but the other kills honest men who like himself bathe in innocent blood at the bidding of some superior.


It would repel me less to be a hangman than a soldier, becau

Summary

This quote expresses the speaker's preference to be a hangman rather than a soldier. The speaker suggests that being a hangman is relatively less repulsive since their duty is to execute criminals who have been condemned by the legal system. However, the speaker finds being a soldier more repugnant as soldiers are obliged to kill fellow honest men on the orders of their superiors, and this act involves shedding innocent blood. The quote reflects the speaker's moral judgment on the different degrees of guilt associated with carrying out different roles within the context of taking lives.

Topics

War
By George Santayana, Persons and Pl
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