It is all very well, nothing is more unjust than thus to treat your enemies. Indeed, the law of nature teaches us to kill our neighbour, and such is the practice all over the world. If we do not accustom ourselves to eating them, it is because we have better fare.
 Voltaire, Candide (1759). copy citation

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Author Voltaire
Source Candide
Topic law killing
Date 1759
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19942/19942-h/19942-h.htm

Context

“"Be sure," said Candide, "to represent to them [Pg 72] how frightfully inhuman it is to cook men, and how very un-Christian."
"Gentlemen," said Cacambo, "you reckon you are to-day going to feast upon a Jesuit. It is all very well, nothing is more unjust than thus to treat your enemies. Indeed, the law of nature teaches us to kill our neighbour, and such is the practice all over the world. If we do not accustom ourselves to eating them, it is because we have better fare. But you have not the same resources as we; certainly it is much better to devour your enemies than to resign to the crows and rooks the fruits of your victory. But, gentlemen, surely you would not choose to eat your friends.” source