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"This is a total anthropological change, a radical reversal of the situation. [...] In past civilizations, respect [...] for a person was based on his conduct throughout his life, it was this that allowed us to judge his value [...]. [Now,] when we give more value to the life of a child, even though we have no idea what he will grow up to be, whether he will be intelligent or stupid, whether he will be a genius, a criminal or a saint, we take away any value from all our actions. Our heroic [...] deeds, everything we have managed to accomplish, [...] our works, all these things have not the slightest value in the eyes of the world and very soon cease to have any value in our own. By doing so, we take away the meaning of life and the motivation of ourselves, exactly speaking, this is called nihilism."

(Michel Houellebecq, Submission)