Army Quote by John Cage
““Put 'em who threaten possessions and power together with 'em who offend our tastes in sex and dope. Those who're touched, put 'em in asylums. Pack off old ones to 'senior communities,' nursing homes. Our children? Keep'em prisoner, baby-sitter as warden. School? Good for fifteen to twenty years. Army afterward. Liberated, we live in prison. No this, no that. Kill us before we die!””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, 1978
The passage depicts a dystopian vision of oppression, confinement, and violence against dissenters.
In simple terms: It describes a grim, authoritarian society that punishes those who differ.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist authoritarian tendencies.
Themes
oppression
violence
control
society
rebellion
Mood
dark
alarmist
Type
political
warning
When to use this quote
- political activism
- social justice work
- mental health support
Key Concepts
totalitarianism
human rights
psychological trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- What real‑world parallels exist?
- How can societies protect freedoms?
A Different Perspective
Extreme language may be hyperbolic.
![“It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic [totally silent] chamber not expecting in that silent room to hear two sounds: one high, my nervous system in operation, one low, my blood in circulation. The reason I did not expect to hear those two sounds was that they…” quote by John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/153/john-cage-2094_blood_it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years_56114.jpg)
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
