Army Quote by George S. Patton
“We entered a synagogue which was packed with the greatest stinking bunch of humanity I have ever seen. Either these Displaced Persons never had any sense of decency or else they lost it all during their period of internment by the Germans… My personal opinion is that no people could have sunk to the level of degradation these have reached in the short space of four years.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 1945, post‑World War II
He condemns the perceived moral decay of displaced persons after Nazi internment, suggesting loss of decency.
In simple terms: He says displaced people have become morally corrupt after war.
Key Takeaway
Recognize suffering without dehumanizing survivors.
Themes
war
morality
humanity
displacement
dehumanization
Mood
somber
critical
Type
historical
reflective
When to use this quote
- refugee camps
- post‑conflict societies
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
post‑war trauma
loss of dignity
collective guilt
Questions to Reflect On
- How does trauma affect moral behavior?
- Can we judge an entire group by extreme cases?
A Different Perspective
The view ignores resilience and solidarity many among survivors.
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
