About Empathy and Necessity

Arcanum Folklore: Empathy is all well and good, but some 'beings' will use that to deceive ya. Ye are going to have to be merciless against those who do not deserve mercy.

Twilight Sparkle: But usually usually you meet those who do not deserve mercy until it is too late. Wouldn't that mean that mean that those that hunt evil inevitably may inflict evil on the innocent themselves when they did not mean to?

Arcanum Folklore: Congratulations, ya figured it out. That in the end those that hunt monster can at time behave like monsters themselves whether we want to or not. And that we aren't infallible. The problem is that if we don't act on suspicion we leave an opening to great for evil to act and even more innocents die, than those that unwittingly get caught in the crossfire. The question is this Sparkle, when I outlive me usefulness and me sins are counted, will ya do the honors to execute me or leave it to another to keep yer hooves clean?

Twilight Sparkle: I don't know.

Arcanum Folklore: Don't worry. Hopefully something will kill me before it ever comes to that.

Twilight Sparkle: Then become better at figuring it out. I don't want it to come to that.

Arcanum Folklore: Yeah, I try everyday better means of figuring it out. But even then I ask meself if us as a species will still be worthy of salvation at the end of it, considering all that might have to be done for us to continue existing indefinitely.

Twilight Sparkle: Is there even a choice?

Arcanum Folklore: As long as empathy can be used to deceive? Nah. No choice at all.