Just Because They Can Doesn’t Mean They Should: Writing Morality That Makes Audiences Think
Part of the series “How to Write a Book from Start to Finish” By J.E. Nickerson | Wise Thinkers Help Desk In two of the most iconic blockbusters of the 1990s, a single line from each film stands the test of time: • “You can’t go around killing people.” — Terminator 2: Judgment Day • “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” — Jurassic Park At first glance, they’re just quotes — simple, memorable, even humorous. But at their core, both speak to the same truth: power without morality is dangerous . And as writers, that truth should shape how we build our stories. ⸻ The Gap Between Ability and Ethics How many stories have you read — or written — where characters are given incredible power, skills, or knowledge, but are also forced to navigate what’s right and wrong? As the group Crosby, Stills & Nash once sang: “You who are on the road must have a code that you can live by.” In Terminat...