Matt Quote by Jodi Picoult
![“[Josie said] "I just ... I don't like the way you treat kids who aren't like us, all right? Just because you don't want to hang out with losers doesn't mean you have to torture them, does it?" "Yeah, it does," Matt said. "Because if there isn't a them, there can't be an us." His eyes narrowed…” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eaa/jodi-picoult-45_matt_josie-said-i-just-i-don-t-like-the-way-y_3068427.jpg)
““[Josie said] "I just ... I don't like the way you treat kids who aren't like us, all right? Just because you don't want to hang out with losers doesn't mean you have to torture them, does it?" "Yeah, it does," Matt said. "Because if there isn't a them, there can't be an us." His eyes narrowed. "You should know that better than anyone.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Storyteller” by Jodi Picoult, 2018
A character warns that dehumanizing others creates a false us‑them divide, leading to cruelty.
In simple terms: Treating others as less than human fuels cruelty.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared humanity to prevent cruelty.
Themes
empathy
division
humanity
Mood
tense
reflective
Type
moral
social commentary
When to use this quote
- school bullying
- workplace conflict
- online harassment
- community disputes
Key Concepts
social psychology
in‑group bias
dehumanization
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling “others” justify mistreatment?
- What steps can restore empathy in divided groups?
A Different Perspective
It ignores structural factors that also shape prejudice.
