Children Quote by Charles Dickens
““It was nothing to her, that an innocent man was to die for the sins of his forefathers; she saw, not him, but them. It was nothing to her, that his wife was to be made a widow and his daughter an orphan; that was insufficient punishment, because they were her natural enemies and her prey, and as such had no right to live. To appeal to her, was made hopeless by her having no sense of pity, even for herself. If she had been laid low in the streets, in any of the many encounters in which she had been engaged, she would not have pitied herself; nor, if she had been ordered to the axe to- morrow, would she have gone to it with any softer feeling than a fierce desire to change places with the man who sent her there.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Unnamed work, 19th century, possibly a short story
A woman lacks empathy, viewing others' suffering as deserved punishment, and wishes to die in their place instead of feeling pity for herself.
In simple terms: She is merciless and wants to swap places with the condemned.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of dehumanizing others.
Themes
empathy
justice
humanity
revenge
Mood
cold
detached
grim
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- war
- court trials
- family tragedy
- personal vendettas
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
social hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- What would happen if she felt compassion?
- Can cruelty ever be justified?
A Different Perspective
Her perspective ignores the possibility of redemption or systemic change.
