Content Warning: This section refers to addiction and animal abuse.

The word “pragmatism” and its family of like terms (pragmatic, pragmatist, etc.) are used nine times in “Quitters, Inc.” to describe the philosophy and approach of the work done at the story’s eponymous organization. Seven of those times are Donatti himself explaining the naked brutality of their treatment protocol in his first conversation with Morrison. While pragmatism might be generally thought of as a practical, positive approach to living, in “Quitters, Inc.,” King unambiguously connects it directly with the cruel, inhuman, and violent tendencies of the worst among us. Pragmatism contends that for something to be thought of as worthwhile or valuable, it should be assessed in light of its consequences. It is a philosophy concerned first and foremost with results, primarily focused on ends rather than means. The horrific possibilities that King explores in “Quitters, Inc.” center around the question of how far a person or organization might go to achieve a noble end.

Thematically, this concern with the ways that pragmatism can justify cruelty plays out in two ways in the text. Firstly, it is present in the personal, firsthand experiences of Morrison and his wife as they are disempowered, kidnapped, and subjected to psychological and literal torture at Donatti’s hands.