Barbarians Quote by Jeanette Winterson
““There is always a city. There is always a civilization. There is always a barbarian with a pickaxe. Sometimes you are the city, sometimes you are the civilization, but to become that city, that civilization, you once took a pickaxe and destroyed what you hated, and what you hated is what you did not understand.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson, 1992
Civilization and barbarism are two sides of the same coin; transformation requires confronting and destroying what you misunderstand.
In simple terms: Understanding requires confronting the unknown.
Key Takeaway
Challenge your assumptions.
Themes
growth
conflict
transformation
Mood
provocative
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal growth
- conflict resolution
- artistic creation
Key Concepts
philosophy
social dynamics
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What ‘pickaxe’ have you wielded?
- What do you fear to understand?
A Different Perspective
Destruction may cause collateral damage.
