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Sarah turned on her, and shook her head. "You may keep…

“Sarah turned on her, and shook her head. "You may keep them. And if it is possible with so small a sum of money, I suggest you purchase some instrument of torture. I am sure Mrs. Fairly will be pleased to help you use it upon all those wretched enough to come under your power.” quote by John Fowles
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““Sarah turned on her, and shook her head. "You may keep them. And if it is possible with so small a sum of money, I suggest you purchase some instrument of torture. I am sure Mrs. Fairly will be pleased to help you use it upon all those wretched enough to come under your power.””

John Fowles

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Offer cruel tools to a tyrant, exposing moral corruption.

In simple terms: Suggesting torture reveals evil intent.

Key Takeaway

Beware of enabling cruelty.

Themes

power morality manipulation

Mood

cynical dark

Type

literary satirical

When to use this quote

  • political negotiations
  • abuse of authority
  • war crimes

Key Concepts

ethical decay authoritarianism

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is the suggestion genuine or ironic?
  • What does this reveal about power dynamics?
A Different Perspective

The speaker may be unreliable or sarcastic.

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