--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civilization is based on a clearly…" description: "\"Civilization is based on a clearly defined and widely accepted yet often unarticulated hierarchy. Violence done by those higher on the hierarchy to tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/derrick-jensen-2824_accepted_civilization-is-based-on-a-clearly-defin_1320602.png" --- # Civilization is based on a clearly defined and widely… ![“Civilization is based on a clearly defined and widely accepted yet often unarticulated hierarchy. Violence done by those higher on the hierarchy to those lower is nearly always invisible, that is, unnoticed. When it is noticed, it is fully rationalized. Violence done by those lower on the…” quote by Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/derrick-jensen-2824_accepted_civilization-is-based-on-a-clearly-defin_1320602.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/derrick-jensen-2824_accepted_civilization-is-based-on-a-clearly-defin_1320602.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/derrick-jensen-2824_accepted_civilization-is-based-on-a-clearly-defin_1320602.png) > “Civilization is based on a clearly defined and widely accepted yet often unarticulated hierarchy. Violence done by those higher on the hierarchy to those lower is nearly always invisible, that is, unnoticed. When it is noticed, it is fully rationalized. Violence done by those lower on the hierarchy to those higher is unthinkable, and when it does occur is regarded with shock, horror, and the fetishization of the victims.” [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society hides violence by the powerful, rationalizes it, while condemning rare acts of violence by the powerless. **In simple terms:** Powerful violence is invisible and justified; powerless violence is shocking and demonized. Key Takeaway Question and expose hidden power structures. Themes power violence hierarchy Mood critical provocative Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political analysis - media critique - activism - education Key Concepts critical theory social justice Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms keep elite violence invisible? - How can we address the double standard in violence perception? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex motivations behind all violent acts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Hierarchy Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy-violence-463256/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-hierarchy-4400001/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Invisible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisible/) [Rationalized Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationalized-violence-4400000/) [Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shock/) [Unnoticed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnoticed/) [Unthinkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unthinkable/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [“The violence of hierarchy is the violence that the powerful use against the dispossessed to keep them subordinated. As an example, the violence committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lierre-keith/the-violence-of-hierarchy-is-the-violence-that-the-powerful-use/) [Lierre Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lierre-keith/) > [I want us to organize, to tell the personal stories that create empathy, which is the most revolutionary emotion. The truth of the mater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-want-us-to-organize-to-tell-the-personal-stories-that-create-2/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [There should be no boundaries, no hierarchy, no violence. Men and women are equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-michele/there-should-be-no-boundaries-no-hierarchy-no-violence-men-and-women/) [Alessandro Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-michele/) > [This is a confusing and uncertain period, when a thousand wise words can go completely unnoticed, and one thoughtless word can provoke an utterly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/this-is-a-confusing-and-uncertain-period-when-a-thousand-wise-words/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [The great conquest is the result of small, unnoticed victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-great-conquest-is-the-result-of-small-unnoticed-victories/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There are decades in the making of the one man of renown; Multitudes that go unnoticed who must wreathe for him a crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/there-are-decades-in-the-making-of-the-one-man-of-renown-multitudes/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [The orchestration of press, radio and television to create a continuous, lasting and total environment renders the influence of propaganda virtually unnoticed precisely because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-orchestration-of-press-radio-and-television-to-create-a/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-donohue/it-is-a-strange-and-wonderful-fact-to-be-here-walking-around-in-a/) [John O'Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-donohue/) > [The practice of inhibiting impulses, which is to a great extent necessary to civilized life, makes mistakes easier, by preventing experience of the actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-practice-of-inhibiting-impulses-which-is-to-a-great-extent/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The idea of nature contains, though often unnoticed, an extraordinary amount of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-williams/the-idea-of-nature-contains-though-often-unnoticed-an-extraordinary/) [Raymond Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-williams/) > [History is like a mole, it burrows away unnoticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-sakharov/history-is-like-a-mole-it-burrows-away-unnoticed/) [Andrei Sakharov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-sakharov/) > [Camouflage is about much more than concealment and going unnoticed. There's a whole game involved between revealing and hiding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raf-simons/camouflage-is-about-much-more-than-concealment-and-going-unnoticed/) [Raf Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raf-simons/) > [After a while, footsteps sounded on the flagstones outside and there was a gentle tap at the door. Of course, one of them would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/after-a-while-footsteps-sounded-on-the-flagstones-outside-and-there/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [Just because it went unsaid, does not mean it went unnoticed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-wilson/just-because-it-went-unsaid-does-not-mean-it-went-unnoticed/) [Andre Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-wilson/) > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## More by Derrick Jensen > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. 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I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learned-was-how-to-kill-time-i/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“I had broken the most basic commandment of our culture: Thou shalt pretend there is nothing wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/i-had-broken-the-most-basic-commandment-of-our-culture-thou-shalt/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so-stress-the-positive-with-my/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [If the world is presented as resources to be exploited, then, more than likely, you're going to exploit the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/if-the-world-is-presented-as-resources-to-be-exploited-then-more-than/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [It's no wonder we don't defend the land where we live. 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Where will you choose to make your stand? Give me a threshold, a specific point at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/where-will-you-drive-your-own-picket-stake-where-will-you-choose-to/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“So often, environmentalists and others working to slow the destruction are capable of plainly describing the problems (Who wouldn’t be? The problems are neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-often-environmentalists-and-others-working-to-slow-the-destruction/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Forests precede us and deserts dog our heels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/forests-precede-us-and-deserts-dog-our-heels/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one’s mind, is the condition of the normal man. 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