--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great lie is that it is civilization…" description: "\"The great lie is that it is civilization. It's not civilized. It has been literally the most blood thirsty brutalizing system ever imposed upon this pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/john-trudell-15134_blood_the-great-lie-is-that-it-is-civilization_1408320.jpg" --- # The great lie is that it is civilization. It's not… ![“The great lie is that it is civilization. It's not civilized. It has been literally the most blood thirsty brutalizing system ever imposed upon this planet. That is not civilization. That's the great lie, is that it represents civilization.” quote by John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/john-trudell-15134_blood_the-great-lie-is-that-it-is-civilization_1408320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/john-trudell-15134_blood_the-great-lie-is-that-it-is-civilization_1408320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/john-trudell-15134_blood_the-great-lie-is-that-it-is-civilization_1408320.jpg) > “The great lie is that it is civilization. It's not civilized. It has been literally the most blood thirsty brutalizing system ever imposed upon this planet. That is not civilization. That's the great lie, is that it represents civilization.” [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilization is a myth that masks systemic violence and exploitation. **In simple terms:** Civilization is a lie about humanity’s brutality. Key Takeaway Question narratives that justify oppression. Themes history power colonialism environmental justice Mood critical provocative Type philosophical political activist When to use this quote - education - activism - policy reform - media analysis Key Concepts systemic violence myth of progress Questions to Reflect On - What examples of humane civilization exist? - How can we balance critique with constructive change? A Different Perspective The view can overlook positive cultural achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-civilized-2238720/) [Civilization Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-great-680389/) [Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Lie Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-civilization-4956275/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Represents Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/represents-civilization-4956276/) [Thirsty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirsty/) ## Related quotes > [A general definition of civilization: a civilized society is exhibiting the fine qualities of truth, beauty, adventure, art, peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/a-general-definition-of-civilization-a-civilized-society-is/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [I put forward as a general definition of civilization, that a civilized society is exhibiting the five qualities of Truth, Beauty, Adventure, Art, Peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/i-put-forward-as-a-general-definition-of-civilization-that-a/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [If the humanism that makes civilization civilized is to be preserved into the new century, it will need advocates. 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Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [“If one is searching for the cause of brutality in mankind, it would do well to remember that civilization is a great and vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dutton/if-one-is-searching-for-the-cause-of-brutality-in-mankind-it-would-do/) [Christopher Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dutton/) > [Civilization, that great fraud of our times, has promised man that by complicating his existence it would multiply his pleasures. ... Civilization has promised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-eberhardt/civilization-that-great-fraud-of-our-times-has-promised-man-that-by/) [Isabelle Eberhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-eberhardt/) > [It must be admitted that there is a degree of instability which is inconsistent with civilization. But, on the whole, the great ages have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/it-must-be-admitted-that-there-is-a-degree-of-instability-which-is/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“I'll get it if you need it, I'll search if you don't see it, You're thirsty, I'll be rain, You get hurt, I'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-degraw/i-ll-get-it-if-you-need-it-i-ll-search-if-you-don-t-see-it-you-re/) [Gavin DeGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-degraw/) > [Trying to find this industry's tendency to celebrate the physical is a waste of time. So I'm happy to play the game. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/trying-to-find-this-industry-s-tendency-to-celebrate-the-physical-is/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by John Trudell > [The history of the Indians begins with the arrival of the Europeans. The history of the People begins with the beginning of the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/the-history-of-the-indians-begins-with-the-arrival-of-the-europeans/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [The thing is, it has to do with heart - we have to understand what hearts are for before we can get back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/the-thing-is-it-has-to-do-with-heart-we-have-to-understand-what/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [We have power... 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We’re older than both concepts. We’re the people, we’re the human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-re-not-indians-and-we-re-not-native-americans-we-re-older-than/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [As human beings, we're given intelligence. This is how we make our way through this reality, how we manifest our reality clearly and coherently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/as-human-beings-we-re-given-intelligence-this-is-how-we-make-our-way/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [No matter what they ever do to us, we must always act for the love of our people and the earth. We must not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/no-matter-what-they-ever-do-to-us-we-must-always-act-for-the-love-of/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [Because you look at it, you know, and there's basically one set of rules that protect that industrial ruling class. 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Either I know or I don't know, or I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/i-ve-gone-through-most-of-my-life-not-believing-anything-either-i/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [The objective of civilizing us is to make Indian history become our permanent reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/the-objective-of-civilizing-us-is-to-make-indian-history-become-our/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [We use our intelligence, our creative intelligence, because we create with intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-use-our-intelligence-our-creative-intelligence-because-we-create/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [Every human being is a raindrop. 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