Sometimes they threaten you with something - something you…
“Sometimes they threaten you with something - something you can't stand up to, can't even think about. And then you say, Don't do it to me, do it to somebody else, do it to So-and-so. And perhaps you might pretend, afterwards, that it was only a trick and that you just said it to make them stop and didn't mean it. But that isn't true. At the time when it happens you do mean it. You think there's no other way of saving yourself, and you're quite ready to save yourself that way. You WANT it to happen to the other person. You don't give a damn what they suffer. All you care is yourself.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A person rationalizes harming others to protect themselves, denying empathy and moral responsibility.
In simple terms: Self‑preservation can become cruelty toward others.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist selfish rationalizations.
Themes
selfishness
morality
psychology
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
ethical
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal conflict
- workplace bullying
- political propaganda
- online harassment
Key Concepts
egoism
cognitive dissonance
dehumanization
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever justify harming others for self‑gain?
- How can empathy be cultivated in high‑stress situations?
A Different Perspective
It ignores the long‑term social damage of such behavior.