"Gandhi had been right. There was only one way to behave, even if it seemed, in the short term, against one’s self-interest. Surely it was in one’s self-interest in the long term to exhibit generosity, humanity, kindness and a sense of justice to one’s fellow men. It was cynicism of Beesley’s kind which had, after all, led to the threatened extinction of the whole human race. There could be no such thing s a “righteous” war, for war was by its very nature an act of injustice against the individual, but there could be such a thing as an “unrighteous” war—an evil war, a war begun by men who were utterly corrupt, both morally and intellectually. I had begun to think that it was a definition of those who would make war—that whatever motives they claimed, whatever ideals they promoted, whatever “threat” they referred to, they could not be excused—because of their actions they could only be of a degenerate and immoral character."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Fantasy authorsNovelists from EnglandScience fiction authors from EnglandJournalists from EnglandEditors from England
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Book 2, Chapter 4 “The Triumphant Beast” (p. 262)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Michael_Moorcock
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Michael Moorcock
304 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Michael Moorcock →
Related Quotes
"Al bugiardo non è creduto il vero."
"Some try to understand the world, while others seek to impose their understanding on it. Unfortunately, Mr. Smiles, t…"
"Time was the enemy of identity."
"“There’s more to life than drugs and sex, Mr. Cornelius.” “There’s more than life to drugs and sex. It’s better than …"
"“I appreciate this quest for national identity,” she said, “but it does seem that most traditions were dropped for th…"
"“Better the myth of happiness,” Harlequin murmured, “than the myth of despair.”"
"Even ruin could not make it picturesque. The streets were awash with weather-stained postcards, bedraggled and muddy …"
"Destiny’s Champion, Fate’s fool. Eternity’s Soldier, Time’s Tool."
"Yesterday’s underdog is tomorrow’s tyrant."
"I was thinking of going into the assassination business. You know what a dreamer I am. Would it be too much of a hit …"