--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to escape accountability for his…" description: "\"In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/judith-lewis-herman-19218_abuse_in-order-to-escape-accountability-for-hi_2814419.jpg" --- # In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the… ![“In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely, he tries to make sure no one listens.” quote by Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/judith-lewis-herman-19218_abuse_in-order-to-escape-accountability-for-hi_2814419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/judith-lewis-herman-19218_abuse_in-order-to-escape-accountability-for-hi_2814419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/judith-lewis-herman-19218_abuse_in-order-to-escape-accountability-for-hi_2814419.jpg) > “In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely, he tries to make sure no one listens.” [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perpetrators evade accountability by promoting forgetting, attacking victims’ credibility, and silencing them when secrecy fails. **In simple terms:** Abusers hide crimes by erasing memory and discrediting victims. Key Takeaway Support victims and expose truth. Themes accountability victim silencing memory truth Mood serious empathetic Type legal psychological When to use this quote - therapy - legal advocacy - media reporting Key Concepts psychology law social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect victim narratives? - What mechanisms deter silencing tactics? A Different Perspective Denial can persist despite evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes Perpetrator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-perpetrator-3542696/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forgetting Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetting-secrecy-3006905/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Perpetrator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetrator/) [Perpetrator Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetrator-does-3542695/) [Perpetrators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetrators/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Sexual assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-assault/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Victim Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim-silence-1272712/) ## Related quotes > [“In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. Secrecy and silence are the perpetrator’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/in-order-to-escape-accountability-for-his-crimes-the-perpetrator-does/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [The roots of any evil deed can be traced to the perpetrator's refusal to experience pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ablow/the-roots-of-any-evil-deed-can-be-traced-to-the-perpetrator-s-refusal/) [Keith Ablow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ablow/) > [Does taking the life of the perpetrator return your mom? No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/does-taking-the-life-of-the-perpetrator-return-your-mom-no/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“Treating Abuse Today (Tat), 3(4), pp. 26-33 Freyd: I see what you're saying but people in psychology don't have a uniform agreement on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/treating-abuse-today-tat-3-4-pp-26-33-freyd-i-see-what-you-re-saying/) [David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/) > [“Treating Abuse Today 3(4) pp. 26-33 Freyd: The term "multiple personality" itself assumes that there is "single personality" and there is evidence that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/treating-abuse-today-3-4-pp-26-33-freyd-the-term-multiple-personality/) [David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/) > [When you're the victim of the behavior, it's black and white; when you're the perpetrator, there are a million shades of gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/when-you-re-the-victim-of-the-behavior-it-s-black-and-white-when-you/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [It is known that some victims don't report crimes against their perpetrator. Many fear that they will not be believed. What is less understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ngo/it-is-known-that-some-victims-don-t-report-crimes-against-their/) [Andy Ngo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ngo/) > [“In situations of captivity the perpetrator becomes the most powerful person in the life of the victim, and the psychology of the victim is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/in-situations-of-captivity-the-perpetrator-becomes-the-most-powerful/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [It is very tempting to take the side of the perpetrator. All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing. He appeals to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/it-is-very-tempting-to-take-the-side-of-the-perpetrator-all-the/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [The guarantee of safety in a battering relationship can never be based upon a promise from the perpetrator, no matter how heartfelt. Rather, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/the-guarantee-of-safety-in-a-battering-relationship-can-never-be/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“--"And then I explained to him how naive we were, that the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/and-then-i-explained-to-him-how-naive-we-were-that-the-world-did-know-2/) [Élie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“Secrecy and silence are the perpetrator’s first line of defense. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/secrecy-and-silence-are-the-perpetrator-s-first-line-of-defense-if/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“Luz Castro "And then i explain that the world did know and remained silent. and that is why I swore never to be silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/luz-castro-and-then-i-explain-that-the-world-did-know-and-remained/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“Herman’s Trauma and Recovery, which addresses rape, child molestation, and wartime trauma together, notes: Secrecy and silence are the perpetrator’s first line of defense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/herman-s-trauma-and-recovery-which-addresses-rape-child-molestation/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/we-must-take-sides-neutrality-helps-the-oppressor-never-the-victim/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) ## More by Judith Lewis Herman > [“Therapy requires a collaborative working relationship in which both partners act on the basis of their implicit confidence in the value and efficacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/therapy-requires-a-collaborative-working-relationship-in-which-both/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“In situations of captivity the perpetrator becomes the most powerful person in the life of the victim, and the psychology of the victim is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/in-situations-of-captivity-the-perpetrator-becomes-the-most-powerful/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [Many abused children cling to the hope that growing up will bring escape and freedom. 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When the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/psychological-trauma-is-an-affliction-of-the-powerless-at-the-moment/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“The vast majority of incest begins years before the earliest conceivable age of consent. p4”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/the-vast-majority-of-incest-begins-years-before-the-earliest/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [The ordinary response to atrocities is to banish them from consciousness. Certain violations of the social compact are too terrible to utter aloud: this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/the-ordinary-response-to-atrocities-is-to-banish-them-from/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“The study of psychological trauma has repeatedly led into realms of the unthinkable and foundered on fundamental questions of belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/the-study-of-psychological-trauma-has-repeatedly-led-into-realms-of/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/after-a-traumatic-experience-the-human-system-of-self-preservation/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“The horror of incest is not in the sexual act. but in the exploitation of children and the corruption of parental love. p4”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/the-horror-of-incest-is-not-in-the-sexual-act-but-in-the-exploitation/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“Underlying the attack on psychotherapy, I believe, is a recognition of the potential power of any relationship of witnessing. The consulting room is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/underlying-the-attack-on-psychotherapy-i-believe-is-a-recognition-of/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“when traumatic events are of human design, those who bear witness are caught in the conflict between victim and perpetrator. All the perpetrator asks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/when-traumatic-events-are-of-human-design-those-who-bear-witness-are/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [... in practice the standard for what constitutes rape is set not at the level of women's experience of violation but just above the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/in-practice-the-standard-for-what-constitutes-rape-is-set-not-at-the/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“In this climate of profoundly disrupted relationships the child faces a formidable developmental task. She must find a way to form primary attachments to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/in-this-climate-of-profoundly-disrupted-relationships-the-child-faces/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [“Father-daughter incest is not only the type of incest most frequently reported but also represents a paradigm of female sexual victimization. The relationship between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/father-daughter-incest-is-not-only-the-type-of-incest-most-frequently/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) [Explore all 33 Judith Lewis Herman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. 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They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. 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