Fear Quote by Cherrie Morago
““...it is not really the difference the oppressor fears so much as the similarity. He fears he will discover in himself the same aches, the same longings as those of the people he has shit on... . He fears he will have to change his life once he has seen himself in the bodies of the people he has called different.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Fear of the Other", Cherrie Morago, 2018
Oppressors fear seeing themselves in those they oppress, revealing shared humanity.
In simple terms: Seeing yourself in others is scary.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared humanity.
Themes
empathy
power
identity
oppression
Mood
thoughtful
empathetic
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- community building
- personal reflection
- education
Key Concepts
psychology
social justice
mirror theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What similarities do you share with those you oppose?
- How can acknowledging this change power dynamics?
A Different Perspective
Denial of similarity can perpetuate hatred.
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
