Fairy Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien
““Why should a man be scorned, if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls? The world outside has not become less real because the prisoner cannot see it. In using Escape in this way the critics have chosen the wrong word, and, what is more, they are confusing, not always by sincere error, the Escape of the Prisoner with the Flight of the Deserter. just so a Party-spokesman might have labeled departure from the misery of the Fuhrer's or any other Reich and even criticism of it as treachery … Not only do they confound the escape of the prisoner with the flight of the deserter; but they would seem to prefer the acquiescence of the "quisling" to the resistance of the patriot.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Political Commentary, 1940s (attributed)
Distinguishes between a prisoner's desire to escape and a deserter's betrayal, warning against conflating legitimate dissent with treason.
In simple terms: Escape vs. desertion distinction.
Key Takeaway
Support legitimate dissent, avoid labeling it treason.
Themes
politics
ethics
freedom
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- authoritarian regimes
- activism
- public discourse
Key Concepts
justice
authority
civil disobedience
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria separate escape from desertion?
- How can societies protect dissent?
A Different Perspective
Labeling dissent as treason can suppress legitimate critique.
