system. I mustn’t look to individuals. It’s the system. I…
““system. I mustn’t look to individuals. It’s the system. I mustn’t go into court and say, ‘My Lord, I beg to know this from you — is this right or wrong? Have you the face to tell me I have received justice and therefore am dismissed?’ My Lord knows nothing of it. He sits there to administer the system. I mustn’t go to Mr. Tulkinghorn, the solicitor in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and say to him when he makes me furious by being so cool and satisfied — as they all do, for I know they gain by it while I lose, don’t I? — I mustn’t say to him, ‘I will have something out of some one for my ruin, by fair means or foul!’ HE is not responsible. It’s the system. But, if I do no violence to any of them, here — I may! I don’t know what may happen if I am carried beyond myself at last! I will accuse the individual workers of that system against me, face to face, before the great eternal bar!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator warns against blaming individuals for systemic injustice, urging focus on the larger system rather than personal grievances.
In simple terms: Don’t blame people, blame the system.
Key Takeaway
Address systemic issues instead of personal attacks.
Themes
justice
systemic oppression
individual responsibility
Mood
frustrated
determined
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- courtroom
- legal reform
- activism
- policy debate
Key Concepts
legal theory
institutional critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals effectively challenge unjust systems?
- What are the risks of targeting the system rather than individuals?
A Different Perspective
Systemic change is slow and may face entrenched interests.