Read the excerpt from "The Most Dangerous Game."

Question

"Dear me," said the general, quite unruffled, "again that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded."

"Yes?"

"Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth—sailors from tramp ships—lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels—a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them."

What does Zaroff say to show that he places little value on human life?

“But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded.”
“Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong.”
“Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not?”
“—a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them.”

Answer 1

Zaroff says that life is for the strong to be lived or taken by the strong, implying that weaker individuals are disposable. He also equates human lives to be worth less than animals like horses or hounds, showing that he places little value on human life. Additionally, he asserts that he hunts individuals he deems as "scum of the earth," indicating that he sees certain people as unworthy and expendable.