At least I'm at peace with myself. I have done my best to write a book about what really happened there and why it happened and it's done, it's published. I won't write another book on Vietnam.
Neil SheehanRead
I think you have to remember that Americans saw their purpose as so innately good that they could excuse the pain they would inflict on others to carry out those purposes. Because the purposes were so good, they would justify this pain we were inflicting on other people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how people can justify harmful actions if they believe their goals are morally good.
Neil Sheehan's quote reflects on a troubling aspect of human nature, particularly in the context of American history, suggesting that individuals often rationalize inflicting pain on others when they are convinced that their intentions are noble. It serves as a cautionary reminder that good intentions can lead to justifications for unethical behavior, urging us to critically assess the morality of our actions regardless of our perceived righteousness.
Themes
JustificationMoralityIntentionsPainRationalization
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about historical events, one could cite this quote to illustrate how leaders rationalized their decisions.
More from Neil Sheehan
All quotes →People talked to me in a way I think they would not have talked to somebody who hadn't shared the experience; they gave me their papers, they gave me their diaries. I found people constantly opening up to me. And I think they did because I had shared that experience with them.
Neil SheehanRead
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