Apples to starfruit.

[voice_of_silver]

tectum_viridis asked me: which is worse, to order someone's death or to kill them with your own hands? I have never been able to answer that question. I am far from the one to ask. I don't know "more wrong", "lesser evil"-- I only know what is wrong, what should not be.

Comments

[tectum_viridis]

Thinking on this, perhaps you are right; it is to kill someone either way, and what difference does it make if you commit the physical violence or not? Perhaps it says something about you as a person whether you are able to do it or not; perhaps it says something about you whether you would order something done that you have not the courage to face yourself and implicate another in the crime, or whether you could put aside your compassion and humanity and all in you that rebelled against the very notion to commit violence against the very principle of the universe, life. But either way perhaps it does not make much of a difference.

I only know what is wrong, what should not be. You speak with a voice almost like that of the universe itself. You know what ought to be so, and what ought not to be so. You know these are the most fundamental things. There is, perhaps, no sliding scale of iniquity, nor of good. You speak well and wisely. You've caused me to reflect on much.

[voice_of_silver]

I can't bring myself to make vague declarations based on speculation, based on some system of logic founded on assumed premises, not with something as important as this. I know what is good, and I know what is wrong-- but I have no further premises; I will not simply guess and pretend I must be right. I only know what I know, and I will not pretend, not with a thing like this.