--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the myth of it, the required lie…" description: "\"“That's the myth of it, the required lie that allows us to render our judgments. Parasites, criminals, dope fiends, dope peddlers, whores--when we can ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/david-simon-3189_bigotry_that-s-the-myth-of-it-the-required-lie-t_1085270.jpg" --- # That's the myth of it, the required lie that allows us to… ![“That's the myth of it, the required lie that allows us to render our judgments. Parasites, criminals, dope fiends, dope peddlers, whores--when we can ride past them at Fayette and Monroe, car doors locked, our field of vision cautiously restricted to the road ahead, then the long journey into…” quote by David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/david-simon-3189_bigotry_that-s-the-myth-of-it-the-required-lie-t_1085270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/david-simon-3189_bigotry_that-s-the-myth-of-it-the-required-lie-t_1085270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/david-simon-3189_bigotry_that-s-the-myth-of-it-the-required-lie-t_1085270.jpg) > ““That's the myth of it, the required lie that allows us to render our judgments. Parasites, criminals, dope fiends, dope peddlers, whores--when we can ride past them at Fayette and Monroe, car doors locked, our field of vision cautiously restricted to the road ahead, then the long journey into darkness is underway. Pale-skinned hillbillies and hard-faced yos, toothless white trash and gold-front gangsters--when we can glide on and feel only fear, we're well on the way. And if, after a time, we can glimpse the spectacle of the corner and manage nothing beyond loathing and contempt, then we've arrived at last at that naked place where a man finally sees the sense in stretching razor wire and building barracks and directing cattle cars into the compound. It's a reckoning of another kind, perhaps, and one that becomes a possibility only through the arrogance and certainty that so easily accompanies a well-planned and well-tended life. We know ourselves, we believe in ourselves; from what we value most, we grant ourselves the illusion that it's not chance in circumstance, that opportunity itself isn't the defining issue. We want the high ground; we want our own worth to be acknowledged. Morality, intelligence, values--we want those things measured and counted. We want it to be about Us. Yes, if we were down there, if we were the damned of the American cities, we would not fail. We would rise above the corner. And when we tell ourselves such things, we unthinkably assume that we would be consigned to places like Fayette Street fully equipped, with all the graces and disciplines, talents and training that we now posses. Our parents would still be our parents, our teachers still our teachers, our broker still our broker. Amid the stench of so much defeat and despair, we would kick fate in the teeth and claim our deserved victory. We would escape to live the life we were supposed to live, the life we are living now. We would be saved, and as it always is in matters of salvation, we know this as a matter of perfect, pristine faith. Why? The truth is plain: We were not born to be niggers.”” [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques the illusion of personal merit and control, suggesting that societal structures and chance shape outcomes more than individual virtue. **In simple terms:** We often blame ourselves for failure, ignoring systemic forces. Key Takeaway Recognize systemic influences on personal success. Themes meritocracy illusion social critique self-deception power dynamics Mood cynical reflective critical Type sociopolitical philosophical literary When to use this quote - urban poverty - career advancement - policy reform - education - criminal justice Key Concepts fatalism structural inequality psychological projection Questions to Reflect On - How do systemic barriers shape personal narratives? - Can we balance self-improvement with structural change? A Different Perspective The narrative may overgeneralize individual agency, ignoring personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [High ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-ground/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Living now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-now/) [Long journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-journey/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [White trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-trash/) ## Related quotes > [“The world became more aware that America-despite being the hope of many who have the personal drive and ambition to become part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-world-became-more-aware-that-america-despite-being-the-hope-of/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [“The workplace would allow parents to work part time, to share jobs, to take personal leaves to give birth, tend to a sick child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-hochschild/the-workplace-would-allow-parents-to-work-part-time-to-share-jobs-to/) Arlie Hochschild > [“What is key to America's understanding of class is the persistent belief - despite all evidence to the contrary - that anyone, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/what-is-key-to-america-s-understanding-of-class-is-the-persistent/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [“I'm here to tell niggas it ain't all swell. 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And we do it by spending and eating and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/i-m-saying-the-american-way-is-to-overcome-to-conquer-to-come-out-on/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [“Maybe thinking you're supposed to 'have a life' is a stupid way of buying into an untenable 1950s narrative of what life \*supposed\* to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/maybe-thinking-you-re-supposed-to-have-a-life-is-a-stupid-way-of/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [It feels like it is a daily work and an ongoing task to undo all of the f - - g programming that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/it-feels-like-it-is-a-daily-work-and-an-ongoing-task-to-undo-all-of/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [Life is supposed to get tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/life-is-supposed-to-get-tough/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [This was life, I supposed, running and running and running, and realizing along the way that the phantom was getting closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/this-was-life-i-supposed-running-and-running-and-running-and/) [Jane Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hamilton/) > [“This is not how my life is supposed to turn out”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman-if-i-stay/this-is-not-how-my-life-is-supposed-to-turn-out/) Gayle Forman If I Stay > [“I'm missing something, you know? That special 'sparkle' that ;life is supposed to bring. I have the job, the child, the family, the apartment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-m-missing-something-you-know-that-special-sparkle-that-life-is/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Life is supposed to be fun. It's not a job or occupation. We're here only once and we should have a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/life-is-supposed-to-be-fun-it-s-not-a-job-or-occupation-we-re-here/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I don't believe that life is supposed to make you feel good, or make you feel miserable either. Life is just supposed to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-naylor/i-don-t-believe-that-life-is-supposed-to-make-you-feel-good-or-make/) [Gloria Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-naylor/) > [What kind of life am i supposed to have without you?You were the one good thing,the only good thing i ever found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/what-kind-of-life-am-i-supposed-to-have-without-you-you-were-the-one/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) ## More by David Simon > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [It is your birthright to live a life abundant in love. Make the commitment today to open your heart and let your love flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/it-is-your-birthright-to-live-a-life-abundant-in-love-make-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“If the case isn't plea bargained, dismissed or placed on the inactive docket for an indefinite period of time, if by some perverse twist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-the-case-isn-t-plea-bargained-dismissed-or-placed-on-the-inactive/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Boiled down to its core, the truth is always a simple, solid thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/boiled-down-to-its-core-the-truth-is-always-a-simple-solid-thing/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [When we spend time in silence, we can hear the voice of our soul whispering its sacred message and encouraging us to make choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/when-we-spend-time-in-silence-we-can-hear-the-voice-of-our-soul/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [You have the capacity to change the plot line of your life, even if you've been acting from the same script since before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/you-have-the-capacity-to-change-the-plot-line-of-your-life-even-if/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Healing is the process of reestablishing the integration between body, mind, and spirit, creating opportunities for the return of the memory of wholeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/healing-is-the-process-of-reestablishing-the-integration-between-body/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Authenticity is an alignment between your beliefs, your desires and your choices in the world. Desires change throughout the course of a life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/authenticity-is-an-alignment-between-your-beliefs-your-desires-and/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [One of the sad things about contemporary journalism is that it actually matters very little. The world now is almost inured to the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/one-of-the-sad-things-about-contemporary-journalism-is-that-it/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Awakening into love is a lifelong path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/awakening-into-love-is-a-lifelong-path/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“Everyone lies. Murderers lie because they have to; witnesses and other participants lie because they think they have to; everyone else lies for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/everyone-lies-murderers-lie-because-they-have-to-witnesses-and-other/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [The drug war is a holocaust in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/the-drug-war-is-a-holocaust-in-slow-motion/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Lawrence Gilliard Jr. is a fine actor and I've always felt some residual guilt that we killed him so early in The Wire. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/lawrence-gilliard-jr-is-a-fine-actor-and-i-ve-always-felt-some/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“A man got to have a code. --The Wire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/a-man-got-to-have-a-code-the-wire/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [What drugs have not destroyed, the war on them has](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/what-drugs-have-not-destroyed-the-war-on-them-has/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) [Explore all 134 David Simon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) ## More Bigotry quotes > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Bigoted people are just scholars who lack any sort of legitimate credentials to answer why they're bigoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doctavius/bigoted-people-are-just-scholars-who-lack-any-sort-of-legitimate/) Doctavius > [Sadly, we can't eliminate bigotry. But that doesn't mean we have to tolerate it, much less give it a platform on which to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/sadly-we-can-t-eliminate-bigotry-but-that-doesn-t-mean-we-have-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [“Remember who you are. This creature wants to take it from you. Do not let him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/remember-who-you-are-this-creature-wants-to-take-it-from-you-do-not/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Oh Beautiful For A Land That's Free Where All Can Congregate Together Live With No Degree Of Bigotry And Hate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bee/oh-beautiful-for-a-land-that-s-free-where-all-can-congregate-together/) Kathy Bee > [“That’s the problem with indoctrination—the whole point of the First Order’s kind of education is to stop someone from thinking and instead kick their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/that-s-the-problem-with-indoctrination-the-whole-point-of-the-first/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [Too small is our world to allow discrimination, bigotry and intolerance to thrive in any corner of it, let alone in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-engel/too-small-is-our-world-to-allow-discrimination-bigotry-and/) [Eliot Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-engel/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, especially considering its emphases on timeless and critical topics like discrimination and prejudice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lovejoy/this-book-would-be-a-great-addition-to-a-classroom-library-especially/) [Sharon Lovejoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lovejoy/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Fear and Bigotry are bred fom isolation and ignorance. -Shekinah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-and-bigotry-are-bred-fom-isolation-and-ignorance-shekinah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 661 Bigotry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That's the myth of it, the required lie that allows us to render our judgments. Parasites, criminals, dope fiends, dope peddlers, whores--when we can ride past them at Fayette and Monroe, car doors locked, our field of vision cautiously restricted to the road ahead, then the long journey into darkness is underway. Pale-skinned hillbillies and hard-faced yos, toothless white trash and gold-front gangsters--when we can glide on and feel only fear, we're well on the way. And if, after a time, we can glimpse the spectacle of the corner and manage nothing beyond loathing and contempt, then we've arrived at last at that naked place where a man finally sees the sense in stretching razor wire and building barracks and directing cattle cars into the compound. It's a reckoning of another kind, perhaps, and one that becomes a possibility only through the arrogance and certainty that so easily accompanies a well-planned and well-tended life. We know ourselves, we believe in ourselves; from what we value most, we grant ourselves the illusion that it's not chance in circumstance, that opportunity itself isn't the defining issue. We want the high ground; we want our own worth to be acknowledged. Morality, intelligence, values--we want those things measured and counted. We want it to be about Us. Yes, if we were down there, if we were the damned of the American cities, we would not fail. We would rise above the corner. And when we tell ourselves such things, we unthinkably assume that we would be consigned to places like Fayette Street fully equipped, with all the graces and disciplines, talents and training that we now posses. Our parents would still be our parents, our teachers still our teachers, our broker still our broker. Amid the stench of so much defeat and despair, we would kick fate in the teeth and claim our deserved victory. We would escape to live the life we were supposed to live, the life we are living now. We would be saved, and as it always is in matters of salvation, we know this as a matter of perfect, pristine faith. Why? 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