Crowd Quote by Daniel Keyes
““Glaring coldly at us, the small crowd got out of their hard back chairs and zombied down the hall until the closing clanks of the big iron doors began. The expressionless men that wore drooling towels like bibs walked even slower but the burly attendants hurried them with a stinging crack of the wide leather belts, allowing them no dignity whatsoever. Thorazine, Prolixion, Haldol and any other psychotropic drug on the market maintained and assured obedience of the strictest kind, so it was fed like candy. No humanity, but I almost forgot. We are not human. Clank!””
About This Quote
A bleak depiction of a forced, drug‑induced conformity in a sterile institution, stripping individuals of dignity.
In simple terms: A cold, controlled environment where people lose humanity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist dehumanizing systems.
Themes
oppression
control
psychology
Mood
disturbing
critical
Type
cautionary
social critique
When to use this quote
- mental health wards
- prison reform
- authoritarian workplaces
Key Concepts
conformity
institutionalization
psychotropic drugs
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards protect personal dignity?
- How can we humanize institutional care?
A Different Perspective
May be overly sensational.
