Quote by Robert Lynd
Coleridge says that to bait a mouse-trap is as much as to say to the mouse, 'Come and have a piece of cheese,' and then, when it accepts the invitation, to do it to death is a betrayal of the laws of hospitality.
Summary
In this quote, Coleridge uses the metaphor of a mouse-trap to illustrate a deeper philosophical point. He suggests that luring a mouse with the promise of food and then killing it goes against the laws of hospitality. By extension, his point draws attention to the moral implications of deception and betrayal. Essentially, Coleridge argues that to coax someone into trust or vulnerability and then harm them is not only a breach of trust and kindness, but also a violation of our duty to honor hospitality and ethics.
Topics
Hospitality
By Robert Lynd
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