Barbarism Quote by Dan Simmons
“There were reprints of American editorials. Liberals saw it as a resurgence of social protest and decried the discrimination, poverty, and hunger that had provoked it. Conservative columnists acidly pointed out that hungry people don't steal stereo systems first and called for a crackdown in law enforcement. All of the reasoned editorials sounded hollow in light of the perverse randomness of the event. It was as if only a thin wall of electric lighting protected the great cities of the world from total barbarism.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Hyperion Cantos, 1989
The passage sat media reactions to a chaotic event, highlighting political bias and the fragility of civilization.
In simple terms: Media frames events through ideological lenses, exposing societal vulnerabilities.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias and question narratives.
Themes
politics
media
societal fragility
bias
civilization
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- news analysis
- policy debate
- public discourse
- urban planning
- crisis management
Key Concepts
Ideological framing
social critique
urban decay
Questions to Reflect On
- How do media narratives shape public perception?
- What safeguards protect societies from chaos?
A Different Perspective
The description may exaggerate for dramatic effect, lacking concrete evidence.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
![“[Much] as war attracts me and fascinates my mind with its tremendous situations, I feel more deeply every year . . . what vile and wicked folly and barbarism it all is.” quote by Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e15/winston-churchill-95_barbarism_much-as-war-attracts-me-and-fascinates-m_68452.jpg)
