Extermination Quote by Allan Gurganus
““How soon, sugar, the terrible becomes routine. We've all got this dangerous built-in talent: for turning horrors into errands. You hear folks wonder how the Germans could have done it? I believe part of the answer is: They made extermination be a nine-to-five activity. You know, salaries? Lunch breaks? And the staff came and did their job and went home and ate supper and slept and woke and came back and did their job and went home and ate their supper and slept and woke and came back and did their job. --That's partly how you get anything done, especially a chore what's dreadful, dreadful. -- Honey? we've all got to be real careful of what we can get used to.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The World According to Gurganus, 1995
Routine can desensitize us to horror, turning atrocities into ordinary tasks, as seen in bureaucratic execution of evil.
In simple terms: Everyday work can normalize terrible acts.
Key Takeaway
Stay vigilant against normalizing cruelty.
Themes
morality
routine
evil
Mood
somber
critical
Type
reflective
analytical
When to use this quote
- workplace culture
- military training
- government policy
- education programs
Key Concepts
social psychology
history
Questions to Reflect On
- How does routine mask moral responsibility?
- What can break the cycle of normalized cruelty?
A Different Perspective
People may deny complicity, making change hard.
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