Little girl Quote by A.M. Homes
““The criminal element is contained – held under lock and key – and still it happens. How could it go one without me (us) – is that too narcissistic a mind? What I’m getting at is that, with so many of us locked up, you’d think it would stop. That it continues means that it is you and not me. Tell me about your day, your routine, and what you did at the drugstore when the dumb little girl charged you five cents instead of five dollars. Did you speak up? Are you all so lily-white? The harder it gets to be safe and secure, to trust, to find love and understanding – the more you feel entitled, allowed, even encouraged, to cheat, to lie, to steal, and then later, even to kill. That you are just beginning to feel it now only means you have been lucky for too long.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The End of Alice, 1996
The passage critiques how societal systems imprison criminals yet fail to stop crime, implying collective responsibility and moral decay.
In simple terms: Society imprisons criminals but crime persists, highlighting shared blame.
Key Takeaway
Recognize personal role in societal issues.
Themes
justice
morality
collective responsibility
entitlement
crime
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- prison reform
- community vigilance
- ethical self‑examination
- media narratives
Key Concepts
social critique
psychology
systemic failure
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal actions can reduce societal harm?
- How does entitlement fuel unethical behavior?
A Different Perspective
Overlooks structural causes beyond individual blame.
