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God is the creator of all things, right? He is the force that dictates the laws of the universe, and is therefore the ultimate source of ethics. He is absolute morality... We claim to be doing good. But the Lord Ruler - as God - defines what is good. So by opposing him we're actually evil. But since he's doing the wrong thing, does evil actually count as good in this case?
Brandon Sanderson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote explores the complexities of morality through the lens of a god-like figure's absolute authority over good and evil.

In this quote, Brandon Sanderson presents a philosophical dilemma regarding morality and the nature of good and evil. He suggests that if God is the ultimate source of morality, then opposing His definition of good may lead to actions being perceived as evil, even if those actions seem justified from a human perspective. This raises questions about the nature of ethics and whether moral actions can be considered good or evil based solely on divine dictates, especially when those dictates appear flawed.

Themes

MoralityEthicsGodGoodEvilPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophy class discussing ethical dilemmas.

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At first glance, the key and the lock it fits may seem very different," Sazed said. "Different in shape, different in function, different in design. The man who looks at them without knowledge of their true nature might think them opposites, for one is meant to open, and the other to keep closed. Yet, upon closer examination he might see that without one, the other becomes useless. The wise man then sees that both lock and key were created for the same purpose.
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Every action we take has consequences, Vin," Kelsier said. "I've found that in both Allomancy and life, the person who can best judge the consequences of their actions will be the most successful.
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The most dangerous kind of man is not the one who spent his youth shoving others around. That kind of man gets lazy, and is often too content with his life to be truly dangerous. The man who spent his youth being shoved around, however … When that man gets a little power and authority, he often uses it to become a tyrant on par with the worst warlords in history.
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