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Killing a man in defense of an idea is not defending an idea; it is killing a man.
Jean-Luc Godard
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes that taking a life in the name of an idea does not uphold the idea itself; it diminishes its value.

Jean-Luc Godard's quote critiques the justification of violence in the name of defending ideas. It suggests that resorting to murder undermines the moral standing of the idea being defended, as the act of killing inherently contradicts the values that many ideas promote, such as life, compassion, and respect for others.

Themes

ViolenceDefenseIdeasMoralityPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

During a debate on the ethics of war, one might quote this to argue for non-violence.

More from Jean-Luc Godard

I don't think you should feel about a film. You should feel about a woman, not a movie. You can't kiss a movie.
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