--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The system was psychological and physical…" description: "\"“The system was psychological and physical at the same time. The slaves were taught discipline, were impressed again and again with the idea of their o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/howard-zinn-576_discipline_the-system-was-psychological-and-physica_2854084.jpg" --- # The system was psychological and physical at the same… ![“The system was psychological and physical at the same time. The slaves were taught discipline, were impressed again and again with the idea of their own inferiority to “know their place,” to see blackness as a sign of subordination, to be awed by the power of the master, to merge their interest…” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/howard-zinn-576_discipline_the-system-was-psychological-and-physica_2854084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/howard-zinn-576_discipline_the-system-was-psychological-and-physica_2854084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/howard-zinn-576_discipline_the-system-was-psychological-and-physica_2854084.jpg) > ““The system was psychological and physical at the same time. The slaves were taught discipline, were impressed again and again with the idea of their own inferiority to “know their place,” to see blackness as a sign of subordination, to be awed by the power of the master, to merge their interest with the master’s, destroying their own individual needs.”” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The system enforces inferiority through psychological and physical discipline, merging slaves' interests with masters'. **In simple terms:** Systems teach inferiority, aligning slaves' needs with masters'. Key Takeaway Identify and challenge systemic oppression. Themes race power psychology Mood somber motivational Type historical activist When to use this quote - civil rights movements - educational reform - community organizing - personal empowerment Key Concepts social conditioning internalized oppression Questions to Reflect On - How does internalized inferiority manifest today? - What steps can break the master‑slave dynamic? A Different Perspective Change requires confronting deep‑seated beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The system was psychological and physical at the same time. 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Time was made for slaves, But never for us so hearty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-baldwin-buckstone/why-should-we-break-up-our-snug-and-pleasant-party-time-was-made-for/) John Baldwin Buckstone > [Time was made for slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-baldwin-buckstone/time-was-made-for-slaves/) John Baldwin Buckstone > [“While slaveowners worked vigorously to allow slaves only so much biblical teaching as to make them good, docile, submissive slaves, even the most basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mcdurmon/while-slaveowners-worked-vigorously-to-allow-slaves-only-so-much/) Joel McDurmon > [Slaves were taught to be fine chefs, but they endangered their lives if they made a mistake or served an ill-prepared dish. Rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-smith/slaves-were-taught-to-be-fine-chefs-but-they-endangered-their-lives/) [Jeff Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-smith/) > [“Perhaps we aren’t fully developed. 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They get drawn very deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/many-people-nowadays-who-discover-that-they-have-a-major-symptom/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [I was a waitress for nine years, which I don't regret at all. It taught me about discipline. I was always writing; it took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/i-was-a-waitress-for-nine-years-which-i-don-t-regret-at-all-it-taught/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“S&M is as psychological as it is physical and sexual, Zach. 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The accumulation of knowledge, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-good-education-is-a-synthesis-of-book-learning-and-involvement-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The mountain of history books under which we all stand leans so heavily in the other direction-so tremblingly respectful of states and statesmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-mountain-of-history-books-under-which-we-all-stand-leans-so/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-s-face-a-historical-truth-we-have-never-had-a-free-market-we-have/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I can UNDERSTAND pessimism, but I don't BELIEVE in it. It's not simply a matter of faith, but of historical EVIDENCE. 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