Abuse Quote by Edward Everett
“What subsists to-day by violence continues to-morrow by acquiescence and is perpetuated by tradition; till at last the hoary abuse shakes the gray hairs of antiquity at us, and gives it-self out as the wisdom of ages.”
About This Quote
Violence persists when tolerated, and tradition masks its cruelty, eventually exposing ancient wisdom as complicit in oppression.
In simple terms: Violence endures through acceptance and tradition.
Key Takeaway
Unchecked tradition sustains violence.
Themes
Power
Tradition
Violence
Complicity
History
Mood
Somber
Reflective
Type
Philosophical
Political
When to use this quote
- Political oppression
- Cultural rituals
- Legal systems
- Intergenerational trauma
Key Concepts
Social inertia
Moral decay
Practical Applications
- Policy reform
- Education initiatives
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tradition conceal violence?
- What can break the cycle of acquiescence?
![“[C. S. Lewis] showed me that newness is no virtue and oldness is no vice. Truth and beauty and goodness are not determined by when they exist. Nothing is inferior for being old, and nothing is valuable for being modern. This has freed me from the tyranny of novelty and opened for me the wisdom of…” quote by John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57c/john-piper-255_beauty_c-s-lewis-showed-me-that-newness-is-no-v_1518966.jpg)
