Ideas don't desert you; ideas aren't treasonous to you, but people can be.
Alan DershowitzRead
In the real world in which we live, you always have to choose between evils. And in choosing between evils, you have to have moral criteria for how to make those choices.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life often presents us with difficult choices, and we must use our morals to guide these decisions.
Alan Dershowitz highlights the inherent complexity in the decisions we face in life, where often we find ourselves forced to choose between less-than-ideal options. This quote emphasizes the importance of having a robust moral framework to guide us through these challenging situations, reminding us that our ethical beliefs should dictate our choices even when all options seem flawed.
Themes
ChoicesMoralityEthicsDecisionsEvils
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on moral dilemmas, one might use this quote to frame the discussion.
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A good lawyer knows how to shut up when he's won his case.
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Scientists search for truth. Philosophers search for morality. A criminal trial searches for only one result: proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
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