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Ad-hominem Quote by Ashley Montagu

“It neither kills outright nor inflicts apparent physical harm, yet the extent of its destructive toll is already greater than that of any war, plague, famine, or natural calamity on record - and its potential damage to the quality of human life and the fabric of civilized society is beyond…” quote by Ashley Montagu
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““It neither kills outright nor inflicts apparent physical harm, yet the extent of its destructive toll is already greater than that of any war, plague, famine, or natural calamity on record - and its potential damage to the quality of human life and the fabric of civilized society is beyond calculation. For that reason this sickness of the soul might well be called the 'Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse.' Its more conventional name, of course, is dehumanization.””

Ashley Montagu

About This Quote

Dehumanization erodes societal foundations more profoundly than physical catastrophes, constituting a silent, pervasive threat.

In simple terms: Treathumanization is a destructive, silent threat.

Key Takeaway

Guard against treating people as objects.

Themes

ethics society dehumanization

Mood

somber critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • political rhetoric
  • media portrayal
  • workplace culture
  • war propaganda

Key Concepts

moral decay social cohesion

Questions to Reflect On

  • What practices reinforce our shared humanity?
  • How can we detect subtle dehumanizing language?
A Different Perspective

It can be difficult to measure or confront because it is often invisible.

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