Try any goddam thing you like, no matter how boringly normal or outrageous. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.
Stephen KingRead
Paul Edgecomb: What do you want me to do John? I'll do it. You want me to let you walk out of here and see how far you get? John Coffey: Now why would you want to do a foolish thing like that? Paul Edgecomb: When I die and I stand before God awaiting judgment and he asks me why I let one of HIS miracles die, what am I gonna say, that it was my job?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the moral responsibility to protect and cherish life, even when it conflicts with duty.
In this powerful exchange between Paul Edgecomb and John Coffey from Stephen King's narrative, the dialogue illustrates a profound moral dilemma. Edgecomb grapples with the implications of his role versus the ethical choice to protect Coffey, whom he perceives as a miracle. The fundamental question he poses revolves around the essence of accountability and the choices we make in the face of societal or systemic obligations, reflecting on the ultimate judgment of our actions.
Themes
Moral ResponsibilityEthicsLifeChoicesMiracles
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social justice, one might reference this quote to illustrate the importance of fighting for what is right.
More from Stephen King
All quotes →Eddie discovered one of his childhood's great truths. Grownups are the real monsters, he thought.
Stephen KingRead
Hairstyles change, and skirt lengths, and slang, but high school administrations? Never.
Stephen KingRead
Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.
Stephen KingRead
That's the day's business. Thinking. Thinking and isolation, because it doesn't matter if you pass the time of day with someone or not; in the end, you're alone. He seemed to have put in as many miles in his brain as he had with his feet. The thoughts kept coming and there was no way to deny them.
Stephen KingRead
Late last night and the night before, tommyknockers, tommyknockers knocking on my door. I wanna go out, don't know if I can 'cuz I'm so afraid of the tommyknocker man.
Stephen KingRead
Similar quotes
The key to abundance is meeting limited circumstances with unlimited thoughts.
Marianne WilliamsonRead
To me, it's obvious that the winner has to bet very selectively. It's been obvious to me since very early in life. I don't know why it's not obvious to very many other people.
Charlie MungerRead
We tend to disempower ourselves. We tend to believe that we don’t matter. And in the act of taking that idea to ourselves we give everything away to somebody else, to something else.
Terence MckennaRead
Practice not-doing and everything will fall into place.
LaoziRead
I always had this idea that you should never give up a happy middle in the hopes of a happy ending, because there is no such thing as a happy ending. Do you know what I mean? There is so much to lose.
John GreenRead
Cleverness is a burden after that. You are supposed to settle down and be a good person, raise your children, and be good to your friends, which you may not have been back when you were clever.
Garrison KeillorRead