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Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est" ("They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier").
David Foster Wallace
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the ethical implications of actions that can harm others, particularly in the context of societal norms.

David Foster Wallace's quote underscores the absurdity of certain moral and legal distinctions that society makes. It draws attention to the complexity of human behavior where one may face life-threatening situations from others, yet norms surrounding moral consumption (like 'eating' a person) become ethically contentious, revealing the limitations and complexities of legal and moral frameworks governing our actions.

Themes

EthicsMoralitySocietyBehaviorLegalities

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about ethical dilemmas, this quote can be used to evoke consideration of moral complexities.

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