MOUSE, n. An animal which strews its path with fainting…
“MOUSE, n. An animal which strews its path with fainting women. As in Rome Christians were thrown to the lions, so centuries earlier in Otumwee, the most ancient and famous city of the world, female heretics were thrown to the mice. Jakak-Zotp, the historian, the only Otumwump whose writings have descended to us, says that these martyrs met their death with little dignity and much exertion. He even attempts to exculpate the mice (such is the malice of bigotry) by declaring that the unfortunate women perished, some from exhaustion, some of broken necks from falling over their own feet, and some from lack of restoratives. The mice, he avers, enjoyed the pleasures of the chase with composure. But if Roman history is nine-tenths lying, we can hardly expect a smaller proportion of that rhetorical figure in the annals of a people capable of so incredible cruelty to a lovely women; for a hard heart has a false tongue.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Historical cruelty is often exaggerated; truth is distorted by bias and rhetoric.
In simple terms: History can be biased.
Key Takeaway
Question narratives.
Themes
history
bias
justice
Mood
critical
serious
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- education
- activism
- critical reading
Key Concepts
propaganda
martyrdom
gender violence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we verify historical claims?
- What role does bias play in storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Skepticism may lead to cynicism about all sources.