Dear friend Quote by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
““A short time before the war, some cultivated, intellectual, warm-hearted German friends of mine returned to Germany after living in the United States. In a very short time they turned into sworn Nazis. They refused to listen to the slightest criticism about Hitler. During a return visit to California, they met an old dear friend of theirs on the street, who had been very close to them and who was a Jew. They did not speak to him. They turned their backs on him when he held his hands out to embrace them. How can such a thing happen, I wondered. What changed their hearts so? What steps brought them to such cruelty?””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Man Who Loved Children” (fictional) – actually from “Address Unknown” by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor, 1938
Friends who embraced American ideals quickly adopted Nazi ideology, showing how social environments and propaganda can radically alter moral compass
In simple terms: People can shift from kindness to cruelty when influenced by extremist groups
Key Takeaway
Beware of group pressure that can corrupt values
Themes
history
psychology
politics
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
historical
psychological
When to use this quote
- college campuses
- political rallies
- online forums
- family gatherings
Key Concepts
conformity
propaganda
identity crisis
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can protect moral integrity?
- How does peer pressure affect ethical choices?
A Different Perspective
Not all individuals will change; personal agency can resist pressure
