Loss of a child Quote by Cynthia Ozick
““Consider also the special word they used: survivor . Something new. As long as they didn't have to say human being . It used to be refugee , but by now there was no such creature, no more refugees, only survivors. A name like a number -- counted apart from the ordinary swarm. Blue digits on the arm, what difference? They don't call you a woman anyhow. Survivor. Even when your bones get melted into the grains of the earth, still they'll forget human being . Survivor and survivor and survivor; always and always. Who made up these words, parasites on the throat of suffering!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The History of Love” by Cynthia Ozick, 1975
The passage critiques how language dehumanizes victims by labeling them “survivors” instead of “human beings,” reducing individuality to a statistic.
In simple terms: Labels can strip people of humanity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and restore human dignity in language.
Themes
dehumanization
language
identity
survival
power
recognition
Mood
critical
somber
reflective
Type
literary
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- refugee camps
- medical triage
- media reporting
- legal documentation
Key Concepts
semantic erasure
othering
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling affect empathy?
- What alternatives preserve humanity?
