Abuse Quote by Ivo Andrić
““... but in the depths of their hearts, in that true and ultimate depth which is revealed to no one, there remained the memory of what had taken place and the consciousness that was has once been can be again; there remained too hope, a seneless hope, that great asset of the downtrodden. For those who rule and must oppress in order to rule must work according to reason; and if, carried away by their passions or driven by an adversary, they go beyond the limits of reasonable action, they start down the slippery slope and thereby reveal the commencement of their own downfall. Whereas those who are downtrodden and exploited make equal use of their reason and unreason for they are but two different kinds of arms in the continual struggle, now underground, now open, against the oppressor.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Bridge by Ivo Andrić, 1961
Oppressors who exceed rational limits trigger their own ruin, while the downtrodden blend reason and passion in perpetual resistance.
In simple terms: Power misused leads to downfall; the oppressed resist with mixed tactics.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of unchecked authority.
Themes
oppression
reason
resistance
downfall
hope
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- grassroots activism
- civil disobedience
- personal empowerment
Key Concepts
political philosophy
human nature
social struggle
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies prevent leaders from overreaching?
- What balance of reason and emotion sustains resistance?
A Different Perspective
Unchecked power often spirals into self‑destruction.
![“The US government is usually on the wrong side against the poor and downtrodden, because the wrong side is the right side, given the class interests upon which the [US] policy is fixed.” quote by Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a0a/michael-parenti-7383_class_the-us-government-is-usually-on-the-wron_420728.jpg)
