Children Quote by Jack Finney
““...we're a people who pollute the very air we breathe. And our rivers. We're destroying the great lakes; Erie is already gone, and now we've begun on the oceans. We filled our atmosphere with radioactive fallout that put poison into our children's bones, and we knew it. We've made bombs that can wipe out humanity in minutes, and they are aimed and ready to fire. We ended polio, and then the United States Army bred new strains of germs that can cause fatal, incurable disease. We had a chance to do justice to our Negroes, and when they asked it, we refused. In Asia we burned people alive, we really did. We allow children to grow up malnourished in the United States. We allow people to make money by using our television channels to pursued our own children to smoke, knowing what it is going to do to them. This is a time when it becomes harder and harder to continue telling yourself that we are still good people. We hate each other. And we're used to it.””
About This Quote
Humanity's self‑destructive actions—environmental damage, warfare, injustice—reveal a moral paradox that challenges our self‑image as good beings.
In simple terms: Our deeds betray our self‑image.
Key Takeaway
Self‑deception masks collective harm.
Themes
environment
ethics
history
Mood
somber
critical
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- environmental activism
- social justice movements
Key Concepts
cognitive dissonance
collective responsibility
Practical Applications
- highlight contradictions in public discourse
- promote accountability mechanisms
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies reconcile pride with guilt?
- What steps can individuals take to break the cycle of harm?
A Different Perspective
Overgeneralizing can ignore positive progress and individual agency.
