Faces Quote by Izzeldin Abuelaish
“It is human nature to seek revenge in the face of relentless suffering. You can’t expect an unhealthy person to think logically.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: UN Human Rights Forum, 2020
In extreme suffering, people may seek revenge, and those who are unhealthy or traumatized often cannot think rationally.
In simple terms: Suffering fuels revenge; trauma impairs logic.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate compassion over retaliation.
Themes
revenge
human nature
trauma
logic
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- post‑conflict societies
- personal healing
- justice systems
- mental health care
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
conflict resolution
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives to revenge exist in trauma?
- How can societies support logical decision‑making under duress?
A Different Perspective
Revenge can perpetuate cycles of violence.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
