This 'double ethical bind' we frequently find ourselves in cannot be solved by any formula. Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest. I hope that means being both.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the difficulty of balancing effectiveness with honesty in ethical dilemmas.
Stephen Schneider's quote reflects on the complexities individuals face when confronted with ethical decisions that require a compromise between being effective and maintaining honesty. He emphasizes that there isn't a universal formula to resolve these dilemmas, and it ultimately falls upon each person to determine the right balance that allows them to be both effective in their actions and honest in their intentions.
In practice
In a business meeting when discussing the importance of ethical leadership.
The dramatic importance of climate changes to the world’s future has been dangerously underestimated by many, often because we have been lulled by modern technology into thinking we have conquered nature. This well-written book points out in clear language that the climatic threat could be as awesome as any we might face, and that massive world-wide actions to hedge against that threat deserve immediate consideration.
We are 25 years too late. If the object is to avoid dangerous change, we've already had it. The object now is to avoid really dangerous change.
I'm offended by the kind of smarmy religiosity that's all around us, perhaps more in America than in Europe, and not really that harmful because it's not really that intense or even that serious, but just... you know after a while you get tired of hearing clergymen giving the invocation at various public celebrations and you feel, haven't we outgrown all this? Do we have to listen to this?
My business is that of every other good citizen - to uphold the law.
It is at a fair that man can be drunk forever on liquor, love, or fights; at a fair that your front pocket can be picked by a trotting horse looking for sugar, and your hind pocket by a thief looking for his fortune.
We frequently look into the future of mankind and see dangers. We see if we carry on doing what we are doing in 20 years' time there will be no rainforests left, just to use one example. Looking into the future may be one of the reasons that brains evolved in the first place.
The idea of redemption is always good news, even if it means sacrifice or some difficult times.
Swans sing before they die - 'twere no bad thing should certain persons die before they sing.
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