EXOD459 The Commandment "Thou shall not kill" is more precisely rendered as "Thou shall not murder" [this verse]. (1) Ending a life is murder when, and only when, it stems from base motives, malice, and violence, against the victim's will. (2) Ending a life is irresponsible when the motives, though not base, are superficial and ill-considered (as when a man in his prime takes his own life because of a career fiasco, without considering his wife and children). (3) Yet the ending of a life can also be responsible when happening in its due time. Both the Bible and traditional Catholic concepts hold that "Life is, of possessions, not the highest" (Schiller). The idea that life is beyond our power of disposal is by no means unconditionally valid: risking life for the sake of a higher good, individual and collective defense unto the death of the aggressor, the fatal shot which saves lives when hostages are being taken, and deploying troops at the risk of their lives – – all these are regarded as morally acceptable.