1599 | Henry V |
p.39 | 23565 | Our obedience to the king erases any crimes we commit for him | |
Full Idea: We know enough if we know we are the king's men. Our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us. | |||
From: William Shakespeare (Henry V [1599]), quoted by Michael Walzer - Just and Unjust Wars 03 | |||
A reaction: He is referring to the slaughter of the French servants behind the lines at Agincourt. A classic expression of 'I was just obeying orders', which was rejected at Nurnberg in 1946. Depends on the seriousness of the crime. |
1599 | Julius Caesar |
4.3.205 | p. | 22708 | Good reasons must give way to better |
Full Idea: Good reasons must of force give way to better. | |||
From: William Shakespeare (Julius Caesar [1599], 4.3.205) | |||
A reaction: [Brutus to Cassius] This remark is an axiom of rationality. But, of course, reasons can come in groups, and three modest reasons may compete with one very good reason. |
II.ii | p. | 20304 | The cause of my action is in my will |
Full Idea: The cause is in my will. I will not come./That is enough to satisfy the senate./But for your private satisfaction,/Because I love you, I will let you know. | |||
From: William Shakespeare (Julius Caesar [1599], II.ii) | |||
A reaction: This asserts the purest form of volitionism, but then qualifies it, because Caesar's will has been influenced by his wife's dreams. |
1600 | Much Ado About Nothing |
V.i | p. | 8658 | For there was never yet philosopher/ That could endure the toothache patiently |
Full Idea: For there was never yet philosopher/ That could endure the toothache patiently. | |||
From: William Shakespeare (Much Ado About Nothing [1600], V.i) | |||
A reaction: You can't argue with that. I do think that people who have studied philosophy at length are more likely to be 'philosophical' when faced with human misery, but only up to a point. |