--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finally, it is no longer completely…" description: "\"“Finally, it is no longer completely fantastic to think that a day may come when not the executioners alone will deny the inalienable rights of men, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/josef-pieper-11414_executioners_finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fanta_1753785.png" --- # Finally, it is no longer completely fantastic to think… ![“Finally, it is no longer completely fantastic to think that a day may come when not the executioners alone will deny the inalienable rights of men, but when even the victims will not be able to say why it is that they are suffering injustice.” quote by Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/josef-pieper-11414_executioners_finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fanta_1753785.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/josef-pieper-11414_executioners_finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fanta_1753785.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/josef-pieper-11414_executioners_finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fanta_1753785.png) > ““Finally, it is no longer completely fantastic to think that a day may come when not the executioners alone will deny the inalienable rights of men, but when even the victims will not be able to say why it is that they are suffering injustice.”” [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that oppression may eventually be justified by victims themselves, not just by oppressors. **In simple terms:** Victims may justify their own oppression. Key Takeaway Beware of internalized injustice. Themes justice power victimhood Mood concerned serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political activism - human rights education - legal advocacy Key Concepts human rights psychology social control Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prevent victims from rationalizing oppression? - What mechanisms protect against self‑inflicted injustice? A Different Perspective It assumes victims have agency to articulate their suffering, which may not be true. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it. 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When you step forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonita-alizadeh/there-is-a-lot-of-suffering-and-injustice-in-the-world-and-there-is/) [Sonita Alizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonita-alizadeh/) > [“Today, in a staggeringly complex and diverse world, the overarching biblical narrative that includes creation, fall, redemption and fulfillment has frequently been rejected and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-labberton/today-in-a-staggeringly-complex-and-diverse-world-the-overarching/) [Mark Labberton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-labberton/) > [“As long as there is one person suffering an injustice; as long as one person is forced to bear an unnecessary sorrow; as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/as-long-as-there-is-one-person-suffering-an-injustice-as-long-as-one/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [When the heart is touched by direct experience, the mind may be challenged to change. Personal involvement with innocent suffering, with the injustice others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hans-kolvenbach/when-the-heart-is-touched-by-direct-experience-the-mind-may-be/) Peter Hans Kolvenbach > [“in my cowardice I became at once a man, and did what all we grown men do when face to face with suffering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/in-my-cowardice-i-became-at-once-a-man-and-did-what-all-we-grown-men/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [At a certain level of suffering or injustice no one can do anything for anyone. Pain is solitary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/at-a-certain-level-of-suffering-or-injustice-no-one-can-do-anything/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The only thing worse than suffering an injustice is committing an injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-only-thing-worse-than-suffering-an-injustice-is-committing-an/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The love of justice in most men is simply the fear of suffering injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-justice-in-most-men-is-simply-the-fear-of-suffering/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [If you look at any other group of people suffering injustice, women are always in the worst situation within that group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/if-you-look-at-any-other-group-of-people-suffering-injustice-women/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [The personal stories of disabled people suffering injustice, cruelty and ignorance are heart-breaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-personal-stories-of-disabled-people-suffering-injustice-cruelty/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [For most men the love of justice is only the fear of suffering injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-most-men-the-love-of-justice-is-only-the-fear-of-suffering/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have more than enough programs, organisations, parties, and strategies in the world for the alleviation of suffering and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulak-sivaraksa/we-have-more-than-enough-programs-organisations-parties-and/) [Sulak Sivaraksa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulak-sivaraksa/) > [The British people have a global outlook, they are generous, and when they see suffering and injustice they are motivated to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-british-people-have-a-global-outlook-they-are-generous-and-when/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Great and good men and women stirred sugar into their coffee knowing that it had been picked by slaves. Kind, good ancestors of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/great-and-good-men-and-women-stirred-sugar-into-their-coffee-knowing/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) ## More by Josef Pieper > [The delight we take in our senses is an implicit desire to know the ultimate reason for things, the highest cause. The desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-delight-we-take-in-our-senses-is-an-implicit-desire-to-know-the/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“The vacancy left by absence of worship is filled by mere killing of time and by boredom, which is directly related to inability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-vacancy-left-by-absence-of-worship-is-filled-by-mere-killing-of/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“Patience is not the indiscriminate acceptance of any sort of evil: "It is not the one who does not flee from evil who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/patience-is-not-the-indiscriminate-acceptance-of-any-sort-of-evil-it/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Contemplation does not ignore the 'historical Gethsemane', does not ignore the mystery of evil, guilt and its bloody atonement. The happiness of contemplation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/contemplation-does-not-ignore-the-historical-gethsemane-does-not/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Justice is a habit (habitus), whereby a man renders to each one his due with constant and perpetual will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/justice-is-a-habit-habitus-whereby-a-man-renders-to-each-one-his-due/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [The happy life does not mean loving what we possess, but possessing what we love." Possession of the beloved, St. Thomas holds, takes place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-happy-life-does-not-mean-loving-what-we-possess-but-possessing/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [The brave man uses wrath for his own act, above all in attack, 'for it is peculiar to wrath to pounce upon evil. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-brave-man-uses-wrath-for-his-own-act-above-all-in-attack-for-it/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [What distinguishes - in both senses of that word - contemplation is rather this: it is a knowing which is inspired by love. "Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/what-distinguishes-in-both-senses-of-that-word-contemplation-is/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Beauty, however, must here be understood in its original meaning: as the glow of the true and the good irradiating from every ordered state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/beauty-however-must-here-be-understood-in-its-original-meaning-as-the/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Unless we regain the art of silence and insight, the ability for nonactivity, unless we substitute true leisure for our hectic amusements, we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/unless-we-regain-the-art-of-silence-and-insight-the-ability-for/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [To be conscious of gratitude is to acknowledge a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/to-be-conscious-of-gratitude-is-to-acknowledge-a-gift/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [If God really became incarnate, and if His Incarnation can with justice compel man to change his life,then we have no alternative but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/if-god-really-became-incarnate-and-if-his-incarnation-can-with/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Surrender to sensuality paralyzes the powers of the moral person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/surrender-to-sensuality-paralyzes-the-powers-of-the-moral-person/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Only those are called liberal or free which are concerned with knowledge; those which are concerned with utilitarian ends... are called servile...The question is...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/only-those-are-called-liberal-or-free-which-are-concerned-with/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [To celebrate a festival means: to live out, for some special occasion and in an uncommon manner, the universal assent to the world as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/to-celebrate-a-festival-means-to-live-out-for-some-special-occasion/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) [Explore all 60 Josef Pieper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) ## More Executioners quotes > [If there were no executioners, there would be no executions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-there-were-no-executioners-there-would-be-no-executions/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [A man in love ... is the master, so it seems, but only if his lady friend permits it! The need to interchange the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-desclos/a-man-in-love-is-the-master-so-it-seems-but-only-if-his-lady-friend/) [Anne Desclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-desclos/) > [The first time I met Prince he invented me to his birthday party in Minneapolis. It was a costume party and I came as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/the-first-time-i-met-prince-he-invented-me-to-his-birthday-party-in/) [Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/) > [Perhaps the sexual life is the great test. If we can survive it with charity to those we love and with affection to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/perhaps-the-sexual-life-is-the-great-test-if-we-can-survive-it-with/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Capital punishment kills immediately, whereas lifetime imprisonment does so slowly. Which executioner is more humane? The one who kills you in a few minutes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/capital-punishment-kills-immediately-whereas-lifetime-imprisonment/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [I think awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/i-think-awards-in-this-country-at-this-time-are-inappropriate-to-be/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [What I know is that if you're going to play half-court, you'd better have the greatest executioners of half-court basketball. If you run, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-heinsohn/what-i-know-is-that-if-you-re-going-to-play-half-court-you-d-better/) [Tom Heinsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-heinsohn/) > [In war, force is used by the belligerents themselves, no effort being made to bring evildoers before a judicial body, each army acting as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirby-page/in-war-force-is-used-by-the-belligerents-themselves-no-effort-being/) Kirby Page > [“For it will be very difficult to persuade men of sense that he who with dry eyes and satisfaction of mind can deliver his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/for-it-will-be-very-difficult-to-persuade-men-of-sense-that-he-who/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [God sends such purgations to you, directors of consciences, that you may acquire the science of the saints and the art of directing souls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-of-the-cross/god-sends-such-purgations-to-you-directors-of-consciences-that-you/) [Paul of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-of-the-cross/) > [Science even more than the Gospel teaches us humility. She cannot look down on anything, she does not know what superiority means, she despises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/science-even-more-than-the-gospel-teaches-us-humility-she-cannot-look/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [“Idealists and reformers all become executioners in their turn. The road to utopia ends with the steps of the scaffold, the endless moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/idealists-and-reformers-all-become-executioners-in-their-turn-the/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [We've got to abide by the rules. We have to protect it. The game of golf at a professional level is so clean. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/we-ve-got-to-abide-by-the-rules-we-have-to-protect-it-the-game-of/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [Hope is the most sensitive part of a poor wretch's soul; whoever raises it only to torment him is behaving like the executioners in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/hope-is-the-most-sensitive-part-of-a-poor-wretch-s-soul-whoever/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [Sheep run to the slaughterhouse, silent and hopeless, but at least sheep never vote for the butcher who kills them or the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/sheep-run-to-the-slaughterhouse-silent-and-hopeless-but-at-least/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) Browse all 113 Executioners quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Finally, it is no longer completely fantastic to think that a day may come when not the executioners alone will deny the inalienable rights of men, but when even the victims will not be able to say why it is that they are suffering injustice.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josef Pieper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fantastic-to-think-that-a-day-may/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Executioners" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fantastic-to-think-that-a-day-may/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/josef-pieper-11414_executioners_finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fanta_1753785.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/josef-pieper-11414_executioners_finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fanta_1753785.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/josef-pieper-11414_executioners_finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fanta_1753785.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Finally, it is no longer completely fantastic to think that a day may come when not the executioners alone…” — Josef Pieper", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Josef Pieper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Finally, it is no longer completely...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fantastic-to-think-that-a-day-may/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/finally-it-is-no-longer-completely-fantastic-to-think-that-a-day-may/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```