Famous quote by Margaret Mead

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It is an open question whether any behavior based on fear of eternal punishment can be regarded as ethical or should be
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"It is an open question whether any behavior based on fear of eternal punishment can be regarded as ethical or should be regarded as merely cowardly"

- Margaret Mead

About this Quote

This quote by Margaret Mead is questioning the morality of habits that is based upon fear of everlasting penalty. She is recommending that such habits ought to not be considered as ethical, however rather as cowardly. This indicates that ethical behavior ought to be based on a sense of morality and not on fear of punishment. Mead is recommending that if a person is just behaving in a particular way because they hesitate of the effects, then their behavior is not really ethical. Rather, it is motivated by fear and not by an authentic sense of morality. This quote encourages us to think of the inspirations behind our behavior and to think about whether our actions are genuinely ethical or simply inspired by fear.

About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by Margaret Mead between December 16, 1901 and November 15, 1978. She was a famous Scientist from USA. The author also have 38 other quotes.

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