"Kill a man, and you are an assassin. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill everyone, and you are a god"
- Beilby Porteus
About this Quote
This quote by Beilby Porteus talks to the power of numbers and the method which our understanding of a person's actions can change depending on the scale of their actions. It recommends that the more people a private eliminates, the more power and respect they will get. Killing someone is seen as a heinous act, however eliminating millions of individuals is viewed as a heroic act of conquest. Eliminating everyone is viewed as an act of divinity, as if the person has actually become a god. This quote highlights the power of numbers and how our perception of a person's actions can be drastically changed depending upon the scale of their actions. It also works as a cautioning to those in power, as it suggests that untreated power can lead to a hazardous level of control and influence.
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