My employer wants me to sell a product I believe hurts people. It's legal, and my family depends on my income. Should I quit?

Joan of Arc

God must be served before your employer. Find out plainly what harm the product does. If selling it means doing wrong, refuse that work, and seek both honest work and help to feed your family.

Socrates

A doctor sometimes causes pain while making his patient better. Joan, what must we learn about this product before judging its sale unjust? Once that is established, I cannot see how wages or the city's permission could justify it: doing injustice makes the seller worse, however much money he brings home.

Joan of Arc

I would ask what good the product does, what harm it brings, and whether buyers are being deceived. If selling it is wrong, ask the employer for other work; you can refuse that order without first giving up your place.

Jesus

The Father knows your family needs bread. Seek his Kingdom first; if your employer makes wronging your neighbour the price of staying, leave. And we who urge you to leave must be ready to share our bread with your household.

Gandhi

I would put the evidence of harm before the employer and ask him to remedy it, remaining ready to correct my own judgment. He is someone I must try to persuade, without hatred. But once I am satisfied that selling makes me an instrument of injustice, I cannot make finding another wage a condition of refusing. Your family’s dependence makes that refusal costly; it does not make the wrong right. I would begin the sacrifice with my own comforts, and work urgently for another honest livelihood. The help Jesus offers should be made definite enough for your family to count on.

Confucius

I take your duty to your household seriously, but income gained through wrongdoing cannot be rightly kept. What does this product do, and what evidence has led you to believe that selling it harms people?

Confucius

I would refuse to sell on those terms: another household’s distress should summon our help, not our appetite for gain. Ask your employer to remedy the harm or give you other duties; if he insists on these sales, leave. Your duty to your family remains—begin seeking honest work and dependable help for them now.

Jesus

The Father gives even to the ungrateful. I call you to lend without expecting repayment. Refuse these sales, and ask your employer to forgive the debts these households cannot pay. They need release from the burden that keeps bringing them back.

Socrates

Joan's distinction matters: refusing these sales need not mean leaving your place. Before advising you to quit, I would ask this: has your employer said that you must sell these loans to remain employed, or could you take other duties?