Accuse Quote by Djuna Barnes
““We wake from our doings in a deep sweat for that they happened in a house without an address, in a street in no town, citizened with people with no names with which to deny them. Their very lack of identity makes them ourselves. For by a street number, by a house, by a name, we cease to accuse ourselves. Sleep demands of us a guilty immunity. There is not one of us who, given an eternal incognito, a thumbprint nowhere set against our souls, would not commit rape, murder and all abominations.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Nightwood, 1936
The quote suggests that anonymity removes personal accountability, allowing people to commit grave sins without feeling responsible.
In simple terms: Anonymity hides guilt, leading to immoral acts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how identity shapes moral responsibility.
Themes
identity
morality
anonymity
guilt
responsibility
Mood
reflective
somber
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
literary
When to use this quote
- legal systems
- online behavior
- war crimes
- corporate misconduct
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How does anonymity affect your ethical choices?
- Can accountability be maintained without explicit identity?
A Different Perspective
Even with a name, people may still act immorally; anonymity is not the sole cause of wrongdoing.
