Hemlock Quote by Craig Robertson
![“[Juan Speaking] "Sixth, know that there is hemlock near, there always is and it's always easy to drink it freely or have it forced down your throat. Now days, the hemlock is called differently: departing 'voluntarily' after withering harassment, 'termination for cause', character assassinations…” quote by Craig Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d9a/craig-robertson-87819_hemlock_juan-speaking-sixth-know-that-there-is-h_2551060.jpg)
““[Juan Speaking] "Sixth, know that there is hemlock near, there always is and it's always easy to drink it freely or have it forced down your throat. Now days, the hemlock is called differently: departing 'voluntarily' after withering harassment, 'termination for cause', character assassinations circulated without remorse, call it what you will, but they can and will and love to administer the hemlock. You must either strive to join the powers that be, and hand out the hemlock, or strive to avoid taking the hemlock they will be thrusting upon you; there is no middle ground, no defense, no recourse.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown (likely a podcast or interview)
The quote warns that oppressive systems will force harmful outcomes, and one must either become complicit or resist, with no safe middle ground.
In simple terms: Oppressive forces force harmful choices; resist or become complicit.
Key Takeaway
Choose resistance over complicity.
Themes
power
resistance
oppression
choice
Mood
tense
defiant
cautious
Type
advice
warning
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace politics
- authoritarian regimes
- personal integrity
- activism
Key Concepts
ethics
survival
control
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal boundaries will you set against coercion?
- How can you protect yourself while opposing injustice?
A Different Perspective
Complicity can be subtle, making resistance risky and costly.
![“The world of life, of spontaneity, the world of dawn and sunset and starlight, the world of soil and sunshine, of meadow and woodland, of hickory and oak and maple and hemlock and pineland forests, of wildlife dwelling around us, of the river and its wellbeing--all of this [is] the integral…” quote by Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/983/thomas-berry-7391_animal_the-world-of-life-of-spontaneity-the-wor_638480.jpg)
![“He [Piers] might have been a goofy flake, but he was, in the end, her goofy flake, and she loved him as much as she could.” quote by Craig Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b80/craig-robertson-87819_quote_he-piers-might-have-been-a-goofy-flake-b_1617157.jpg)
