Another man Quote by David E. Stannard
““There was one little child, probably three years old, just big enough to walk through the sand. The Indians had gone ahead, and this little child was behind following after them. The little fellow was perfectly naked, travelling on the sand. I saw one man get off his horse, at a distance of about seventy-five yards, and draw up his rifle and fire—he missed the child. Another man came up and said, “Let me try the son of a bitch; I can hit him.” He got down off his horse, kneeled down and fired at the little child, but he missed him. A third man came up and made a similar remark, and fired, and the little fellow dropped.””
About This Quote
Source Book: American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World by David E. Stannard, 1992
The passage depicts the brutal, callous killing of an innocent child during colonial violence, illustrating dehumanization and moral collapse.
In simple terms: Children suffer in wars of conquest.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge cruelty.
Themes
violence
colonialism
dehumanization
Mood
anguished
reflective
Type
historical
ethical
When to use this quote
- historical education
- human rights advocacy
- peacebuilding
- anti‑war activism
Key Concepts
moral failure
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we prevent such cruelty today?
- What responsibilities do societies have to protect the vulnerable?
A Different Perspective
The narrative may oversimplify complex historical contexts.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
