A neoconservative is a liberal who's been mugged by reality. A neoliberal is a liberal who's been mugged by reality but has refused to press charges.
Irving KristolRead
The really difficult moral issues arise, not from a confrontation of good and evil, but from a collision between two goods
Interpretation
What this quote means
Moral dilemmas often occur when two positive values conflict with each other, rather than just opposing good and evil.
Irving Kristol's quote emphasizes that the most complex moral challenges we face come from situations where two worthy principles or values come into conflict. Unlike straightforward battles between good and evil, these dilemmas require careful consideration and often lead to difficult choices, highlighting the intricate nature of ethics in real-life scenarios.
Themes
MoralityDilemmaValuesEthicsConflict
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on ethics in a philosophy class, you could use this quote to illustrate how moral conflicts arise.
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You have to know one big thing and stick with it. The leaders who had one very big idea and one very big commitment. This permitted them to create something. Those are the ones who leave a legacy.
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