--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scandinavia is boring. People living…" description: "\"Scandinavia is boring. People living there apparently have little to do. And as European history teaches, when there is nothing much to do, you may as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/elliott-abrams-1577_amuse_scandinavia-is-boring-people-living-ther_1216130.jpg" --- # Scandinavia is boring. People living there apparently have… ![“Scandinavia is boring. People living there apparently have little to do. And as European history teaches, when there is nothing much to do, you may as well amuse yourself by attacking the Jews.” quote by Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/elliott-abrams-1577_amuse_scandinavia-is-boring-people-living-ther_1216130.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/elliott-abrams-1577_amuse_scandinavia-is-boring-people-living-ther_1216130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/elliott-abrams-1577_amuse_scandinavia-is-boring-people-living-ther_1216130.jpg) > “Scandinavia is boring. People living there apparently have little to do. And as European history teaches, when there is nothing much to do, you may as well amuse yourself by attacking the Jews.” [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement suggests that boredom leads to destructive behavior, specifically anti‑Jewish violence, implying a causal link between idle societies and scapegoating. **In simple terms:** Boredom can cause people to target minorities. Key Takeaway Avoid idle time that fuels hate. Themes boredom violence scapegoating history prejudice Mood critical concerned Type political historical analytical When to use this quote - political discourse - education curricula - community programs - media analysis Key Concepts social psychology historical cycles group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What factors truly drive anti‑Jewish violence? - How can societies channel idle energy positively? A Different Perspective Such sweeping generalizations ignore many peaceful, vibrant societies and risk reinforcing stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [European](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european/) [European history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european-history/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Jews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jews/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scandinavia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scandinavia/) ## Related quotes > [“I asked him who had put into the crowd’s head the idea of attacking the Jews. Salvatore could not remember. I believe that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-asked-him-who-had-put-into-the-crowd-s-head-the-idea-of-attacking/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The Norse way of speaking, no one really knew what the Vikings sounded liked, they were Norsemen. The accent is really a combination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katheryn-winnick/the-norse-way-of-speaking-no-one-really-knew-what-the-vikings-sounded/) [Katheryn Winnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katheryn-winnick/) > [I spent 34 months on the battleship Alabama, South Dakota-class. I was a gun captain. First we went to Russia for about 11 months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-feller/i-spent-34-months-on-the-battleship-alabama-south-dakota-class-i-was/) [Bob Feller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-feller/) > [“The national curriculum for the Swedish preschool is twenty pages long and goes on at length about things like fostering respect for one another,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-akeson-mcgurk/the-national-curriculum-for-the-swedish-preschool-is-twenty-pages/) Linda Akeson McGurk > [We have a certain warped sense of humor in Scandinavia, and that is what comes across in the choices in a lot of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-nielsen/we-have-a-certain-warped-sense-of-humor-in-scandinavia-and-that-is/) [Connie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-nielsen/) > [I'm actually in love with all of Scandinavia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-m-actually-in-love-with-all-of-scandinavia/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [In the ninth and tenth centuries the Vikings invaded Britain from Scandinavia and settled in large numbers. Their language, which we call Old Norse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-trask/in-the-ninth-and-tenth-centuries-the-vikings-invaded-britain-from/) [Larry Trask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-trask/) > [Bernie Sanders talks about socialism in Scandinavia, and he's correct to point to the huge victories the working class has won there through struggle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshama-sawant/bernie-sanders-talks-about-socialism-in-scandinavia-and-he-s-correct/) [Kshama Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshama-sawant/) > [But sea power has never led to despotism. The nations that have enjoyed sea power even for a brief period-Athens, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eliot-morison/but-sea-power-has-never-led-to-despotism-the-nations-that-have/) [Samuel Eliot Morison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eliot-morison/) > [There were tons of bronzed Scandinavian types at the Sorbonne. Marvellously blond and healthy and shining white teeth. Funny thing though, because someone told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bingham/there-were-tons-of-bronzed-scandinavian-types-at-the-sorbonne/) [Charlotte Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bingham/) > [Mystery Road' hadn't been shown in Scandinavia but I read the script and I just had to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-helin/mystery-road-hadn-t-been-shown-in-scandinavia-but-i-read-the-script/) [Sofia Helin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-helin/) > [Scandinavia can be quite fashionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid/scandinavia-can-be-quite-fashionable/) [Sigrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid/) > [The Swedish Christmas is definitely unique, even throughout Scandinavia. Like Christmas everywhere, it's a very family-centered holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/the-swedish-christmas-is-definitely-unique-even-throughout/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I had an old band in Scandinavia, the beginning of Mercyful Fate, so it reminds me of my roots as a teenager. We used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yenz-leonhardt/i-had-an-old-band-in-scandinavia-the-beginning-of-mercyful-fate-so-it/) Yenz Leonhardt > [The Earth's population will be culled from today's 6.6 billion to as few as 500 million, with most of the survivors living in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/the-earth-s-population-will-be-culled-from-today-s-6-6-billion-to-as/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) ## More by Elliott Abrams > [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The story of the Jews in the Bible is replete with incidents of their ingratitude to God for His gifts to them: incidents that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-story-of-the-jews-in-the-bible-is-replete-with-incidents-of-their/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [History may someday record that the Arab awakening that began with the Arab revolt of 1916 against the Ottomans ended about a century later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/history-may-someday-record-that-the-arab-awakening-that-began-with/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [From its earliest days in the nineteenth century, and until the Holocaust, the Orthodox rabbinate in eastern Europe was not enthusiastic about the Zionist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/from-its-earliest-days-in-the-nineteenth-century-and-until-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The Pope is not a political figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-pope-is-not-a-political-figure/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Israel and the Palestinians had been at the table together for decades until the Obama/Mitchell/Rahm Emanuel decision to demand a total end to Israeli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/israel-and-the-palestinians-had-been-at-the-table-together-for/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Pundits are used to analyzing the gap between what our ideals suggest and what our security interests require.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/pundits-are-used-to-analyzing-the-gap-between-what-our-ideals-suggest/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The Egyptian military and the government of Israel have long had a common interest in maintaining order and fighting terrorism in Sinai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-egyptian-military-and-the-government-of-israel-have-long-had-a/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [In 2007, early in the improbable presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, the young first-term senator began a series of foreign-policy speeches that seemed too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/in-2007-early-in-the-improbable-presidential-candidacy-of-barack/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Terrorists that kill Americans don't get released.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/terrorists-that-kill-americans-don-t-get-released/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Refusing to lift sanctions and adopting tougher rhetoric toward Iran would not be partisan issues. Plenty of Democrats think that those actions are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/refusing-to-lift-sanctions-and-adopting-tougher-rhetoric-toward-iran/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [At the height of the Cold War, when Ronald Reagan was president, the Soviets and their allies and satellites did not shirk human rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/at-the-height-of-the-cold-war-when-ronald-reagan-was-president-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [I personally would not talk to a Jew for Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/i-personally-would-not-talk-to-a-jew-for-jesus/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [When freedom of the press is threatened, the United States should be leading efforts to protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/when-freedom-of-the-press-is-threatened-the-united-states-should-be/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Israel bombed the Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007. What the Syrians did in response, nothing. Israel has killed a number of terrorist leaders in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/israel-bombed-the-syrian-nuclear-reactor-in-2007-what-the-syrians-did/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) [Explore all 226 Elliott Abrams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) ## More Amuse quotes > [To design is much more than simply to assemble, to order, or even to edit: it is to add value and meaning, to illuminate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/to-design-is-much-more-than-simply-to-assemble-to-order-or-even-to/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [We must be contented to amuse, when we cannot inform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-must-be-contented-to-amuse-when-we-cannot-inform/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Kids can amuse themselves with almost anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-klein/kids-can-amuse-themselves-with-almost-anything/) [Allen Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-klein/) > [Fashion and decor should amuse you and your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-santo-domingo/fashion-and-decor-should-amuse-you-and-your-friends/) [Lauren Santo Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-santo-domingo/) > [“The situation always amuse you unless you don't go through it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikunj-shukla/the-situation-always-amuse-you-unless-you-don-t-go-through-it/) Nikunj shukla > [...do you think God made the world to amuse himself because he was bored? Because if so he would have to be mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/do-you-think-god-made-the-world-to-amuse-himself-because-he-was-bored/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [With all due respect for the wondrous ways people have invented to amuse themselves and one another on paved surfaces, I find that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/with-all-due-respect-for-the-wondrous-ways-people-have-invented-to/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I do films that amuse me and I can enjoy watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nani/i-do-films-that-amuse-me-and-i-can-enjoy-watching/) [Nani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nani/) > [ They \[the English\] amuse themselves sadly as in the custom of their country. \[Fr., Ils s'amusaient tristement selon la contume de leur pays.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-froissart/they-the-english-amuse-themselves-sadly-as-in-the-custom-of-their/) [Jean Froissart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-froissart/) > [I certainly know all about the Jersey jokes that amuse the rest of the country. You've probably heard them. Our state bird is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/i-certainly-know-all-about-the-jersey-jokes-that-amuse-the-rest-of/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [Now, all writing - all the arts - are a form of 'Pay attention to me,' but there's also the flip side. Like, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/now-all-writing-all-the-arts-are-a-form-of-pay-attention-to-me-but/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [ “\[O\]ur relationship with nature has become warped. You see, nature has acquired a purpose where we are concerned. Its task is to amuse us.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-roth/o-ur-relationship-with-nature-has-become-warped-you-see-nature-has/) [Joseph Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-roth/) > ['The Truth About Lorin Jones' will undoubtedly shock and offend as many readers as it will amuse, since it dares to make fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-truth-about-lorin-jones-will-undoubtedly-shock-and-offend-as-many/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“I don't live to amuse you, you know." "One, are you sure? Because you do. And two, we don't make fun of you. Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-don-t-live-to-amuse-you-you-know-one-are-you-sure-because-you-do/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“But then such a book as this is not meant to amuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/but-then-such-a-book-as-this-is-not-meant-to-amuse/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) Browse all 60 Amuse quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scandinavia is boring. People living there apparently have little to do. 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