To wage a war for a purely moral reason is as absurd as to ravish a woman for a purely moral reason
Interpretation
The quote suggests that actions driven purely by moral reasoning, without consideration of consequences, can lead to absurdity.
H. L. Mencken's quote highlights the complexity of human motivations, arguing that engaging in extreme actions—such as waging war or violating someone's autonomy—solely for moral reasons is illogical. It implies that morality alone cannot justify extreme measures, as such actions often lead to adverse outcomes, making the pursuit of a moral cause paradoxical.
In practice
In a debate about the justifications of war, this quote can illustrate the complexities of moral reasoning.
I know a good many men of great learning-that is, men born with an extraordinary eagerness and capacity to acquire knowledge. One and all, they tell me that they can't recall learning anything of any value in school. All that schoolmasters managed to accomplish with them was to test and determine the amount of knowledge that they had already acquired independently-and not infrequently the determination was made clumsily and inaccurately.
It takes a long while for a naturally trustful person to reconcile himself to the idea that after all God will not help him
It is the theory of all modern civilized governments that they protect and foster the liberty of the citizen; it is the practice of all of them to limit its exercise, and sometimes very narrowly.
The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true deserts.
The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.
It is my conviction that no normal man ever fell in love, within the ordinary meaning of the term, after the age of thirty.
Sheer egoism... Writers share this characteristic with scientists, artists, politicians, lawyers, soldiers, successful businessmen - in short, with the whole top crust of humanity.
Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges.
For although we know that the years pass, that youth gives way to old age, that fortunes and thrones crumble (even the most solid among them) and that fame is transitory, the manner in which—by means of a sort of snapshot—we take cognisance of this moving universe whirled along by Time, has the contrary effect of immobilising it.
Every man is our brother, and every man’s burden is our own. Where poverty exists, all are poorer. Where hate flourishes, all are corrupted. Where injustice reins, all are unequal.
If we could read the secret history of our enemies.
In truth the Church is too unique to prove herself unique. For most popular and easy proof is by parallel; and here there is no parallel.
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