Bewildered Quote by Guy de Maupassant
“War! When I but think of this word, I feel bewildered, as though they were speaking to me of sorcery, of the Inquisition, of a distant, finished, abominable, monstrous, unnatural thing. When they speak to us of cannibals, we smile proudly, as we proclaim our superiority to these savages. Who are the real savages? Those who struggle in order to eat those whom they vanquish, or those who struggle merely to kill?”
About This Quote
Source Short Story: "The Savages", 1885
The concept of savagery is subjective; those who claim superiority may be the true savages.
In simple terms: Superiority claims hide one's own cruelty.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about moral superiority.
Themes
ethics
war
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political debate
- historical analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
moral relativism
colonialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Who defines what is savage?
- How does language shape moral judgments?
A Different Perspective
The quote may oversimplify complex historical contexts.
