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It must be said in addition that the men with the most scrupulous respect for embryonic life are also those who are most zealous when it comes to condemning adults to death in war.
Simone De Beauvoir
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques the contradiction in valuing life at different stages, highlighting hypocrisy in views on life and death.

Simone De Beauvoir points out the inconsistency in societal attitudes toward life, contrasting the respect given to embryonic life with the disregard for adult life in the context of war. This reflects a deeper philosophical examination of how value is assigned to life based on context and circumstance, suggesting a need for a more cohesive ethic regarding the sanctity of life.

Themes

LifeWarHypocrisyEthicsValueEmbryonic

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about pro-life policies, this quote can emphasize the need for consistent ethical standards.

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