Land Quote by George Bernard Shaw
“If I own a large part of Scotland, I can turn the people off the land practically into the sea or across the sea. I can take women in child-bearing and throw them into the snow and leave them there. That has been done. I can do it for no better reason than I think it is better to shoot deer on the land than allow people to live on it.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Man and Superman, 1903
The speaker suggests that those with power over land can displace people arbitrarily, even committing atrocities, for trivial reasons like hunting deer.
In simple terms: Powerful landowners can evict and harm people for trivial reasons.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge unjust authority.
Themes
power
injustice
land rights
human rights
authority
dehumanization
Mood
angry
critical
somber
Type
political
ethical
social
When to use this quote
- urban redevelopment
- environmental displacement
- policy making
- humanitarian advocacy
Key Concepts
colonialism
property law
ethical relativism
state violence
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do landowners have to communities?
- How can societies prevent abuse of land ownership?
A Different Perspective
The quote may be hyperbolic, not reflecting actual policies.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
