--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one is searching for the cause of…" description: "\"“If one is searching for the cause of brutality in mankind, it would do well to remember that civilization is a great and vast machine.”\" — Christopher..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/christopher-dutton-41346_brutality_if-one-is-searching-for-the-cause-of-bru_1512979.jpg" --- # If one is searching for the cause of brutality in mankind… ![“If one is searching for the cause of brutality in mankind, it would do well to remember that civilization is a great and vast machine.” quote by Christopher Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/christopher-dutton-41346_brutality_if-one-is-searching-for-the-cause-of-bru_1512979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/christopher-dutton-41346_brutality_if-one-is-searching-for-the-cause-of-bru_1512979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/christopher-dutton-41346_brutality_if-one-is-searching-for-the-cause-of-bru_1512979.jpg) > ““If one is searching for the cause of brutality in mankind, it would do well to remember that civilization is a great and vast machine.”” [Christopher Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dutton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilization is a massive, complex system, and its brutality stems from its mechanistic nature. **In simple terms:** Society is a huge machine. Key Takeaway Question the structures that cause harm. Themes civilization brutality systems Mood critical analytical Type sociological philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - education - community building Key Concepts social theory human nature Questions to Reflect On - How can we humanize societal systems? - What alternatives to “machine” thinking exist? A Different Perspective Mechanistic view may ignore individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Brutality Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality-mankind-5573740/) [Cause Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-brutality-5573742/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-great-680389/) [Civilizations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilizations/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Remember Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-civilization-5573741/) ## Related quotes > [It must be admitted that there is a degree of instability which is inconsistent with civilization. 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Civilizations are ghouls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gutzon-borglum/each-succeeding-civilization-forgets-its-predecessor-civilizations/) [Gutzon Borglum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gutzon-borglum/) > [In all civilizations we've studied, all cultures that we know of across the Earth and across time have invested some kind of attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-all-civilizations-we-ve-studied-all-cultures-that-we-know-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We civilizations now know ourselves mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/we-civilizations-now-know-ourselves-mortal/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) ## More by Christopher Dutton > [“Time and suffering are inseperable. 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