--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is organized violence on the top which…" description: "\"It is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom\" — Emma Goldman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/emma-goldman-774_bottom_it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-whic_772124.png" --- # It is organized violence on the top which creates… ![“It is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/emma-goldman-774_bottom_it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-whic_772124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/emma-goldman-774_bottom_it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-whic_772124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/emma-goldman-774_bottom_it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-whic_772124.png) > “It is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom” [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Top‑level organized violence breeds individual violence among the populace, creating a cycle of aggression. **In simple terms:** Leadership violence leads to personal violence. Key Takeaway Break cycles of systemic aggression. Themes politics violence society Mood critical hopeful Type theory activism When to use this quote - policy reform - community mediation - education programs Key Concepts power structures social psychology conflict theory Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can interrupt this cycle? - How can individuals resist violent norms? A Different Perspective Systemic change is slow and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-violence-2030466/) [Organized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized/) [Organized Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-violence-1228010/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Creates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-creates-4734117/) ## Related quotes > [It is organized violence on top which creates individual violence at the bottom. It is the accumulated indignation against organized wrong, organized crime, organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/it-is-organized-violence-on-top-which-creates-individual-violence-at/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Political violence is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/political-violence-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-which-creates/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Any act of violence creates resentment and resistance, because humans were meant to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-act-of-violence-creates-resentment-and-resistance-because-humans/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I get in trouble when I say things like, 'I'm attracted to violence.' I was a pretty angry kid, and I got into military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-carr/i-get-in-trouble-when-i-say-things-like-i-m-attracted-to-violence-i/) [Caleb Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-carr/) > [I was a pretty angry kid, and I got into military history largely as a way to vent my own anger. As I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-carr/i-was-a-pretty-angry-kid-and-i-got-into-military-history-largely-as-a/) [Caleb Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-carr/) > [“... on the historical scale, the damages wrought by individual violence for selfish motives are insignificant compared to the holocausts resulting from self-transcending devotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/on-the-historical-scale-the-damages-wrought-by-individual-violence/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Under all conditions, well-organized violence seems to him the shortest distance between two points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/under-all-conditions-well-organized-violence-seems-to-him-the/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) > [Each situation has to be evaluated separately, for all are different. In general, I believe in non-violent direct action, which involve organizing large numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/each-situation-has-to-be-evaluated-separately-for-all-are-different/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Laws are rules established by men who are in control of organized violence for the non fulfillment of which those who do not fulfill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-nikolaevich-tolstoy/laws-are-rules-established-by-men-who-are-in-control-of-organized/) [Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-nikolaevich-tolstoy/) > [“Of course civilizations are aggressive, Holmes says, but when they take up arms in order to impose their conception of civility on others, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-menand/of-course-civilizations-are-aggressive-holmes-says-but-when-they-take/) [Louis Menand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-menand/) > [Interesting. You Earth people glorify organized violence for 40 centuries, but you imprison those who employ it privately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/interesting-you-earth-people-glorify-organized-violence-for-40/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [The average mind is slow in grasping a truth, but when the most thoroughly organized, centralized institution, maintained at an excessive national expense, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-average-mind-is-slow-in-grasping-a-truth-but-when-the-most/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [A basic assumption shapes most Americans’ mindset about labor: the belief that the death of unions isn’t my problem because I’m not in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/a-basic-assumption-shapes-most-americans-mindset-about-labor-the/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [There exists, at the bottom of all abasement and misfortune, a last extreme which rebels and joins battle with the forces of law and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-exists-at-the-bottom-of-all-abasement-and-misfortune-a-last/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [In Russia, whatever be the appearance of things, violence and arbitrary rule is at the bottom of them all. Tyranny rendered calm by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-custine/in-russia-whatever-be-the-appearance-of-things-violence-and-arbitrary/) [Marquis de Custine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-custine/) ## More by Emma Goldman > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested - for a while at least. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/only-when-human-sorrows-are-turned-into-a-toy-with-glaring-colors/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [More pernicious than the power of a dictator is that of a class; the most terrible - the tyranny of a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/more-pernicious-than-the-power-of-a-dictator-is-that-of-a-class-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Love, the strongest and deepest element in all life, the harbinger of hope, of joy, of ecstasy; love, the definer of all laws, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/love-the-strongest-and-deepest-element-in-all-life-the-harbinger-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of women is responsible for prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/whether-our-reformers-admit-it-or-not-the-economic-and-social/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The free expression of the hopes and aspirations of a people is the greatest and only safety in a sane society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-free-expression-of-the-hopes-and-aspirations-of-a-people-is-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/someone-has-said-that-it-requires-less-mental-effort-to-condemn-than/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The persecution of the innovator and protestant has always been inspired by fear on the part of constituted authority of having its infallibility questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-persecution-of-the-innovator-and-protestant-has-always-been/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Order derived through submission and maintained by terror is not much of a safe guaranty; yet that is the only "order" that governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/order-derived-through-submission-and-maintained-by-terror-is-not-much/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/salvation-lies-in-an-energetic-march-onward-towards-a-brighter-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The more hideous the mental contortions, the greater the delight and bravos of the mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-more-hideous-the-mental-contortions-the-greater-the-delight-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) [Explore all 368 Emma Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## More Bottom quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought you ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/one-thing-you-learned-as-a-cubs-fan-when-you-bought-you-ticket-you/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) [Browse all 2,558 Bottom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emma Goldman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-which-creates-individual-violence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bottom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-which-creates-individual-violence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/emma-goldman-774_bottom_it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-whic_772124.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/emma-goldman-774_bottom_it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-whic_772124.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/emma-goldman-774_bottom_it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-whic_772124.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom” — Emma Goldman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Emma Goldman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is organized violence on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-which-creates-individual-violence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/it-is-organized-violence-on-the-top-which-creates-individual-violence/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```