Change Quote by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
““The suddenness of these changes, together with the Germanic instinct of obedience, caused them to be accepted passively. It was hard to say at the moment whether the new plans would turn out well or not. When systematized persecutions began to grow they were met with this same passivity, but here the desire for self-preservation played a large part. If your neighbor’s house rang with cries of terror during the night, if you saw a Jew dragged from his shop and beaten, still it was not happening to you and your acquiescence might be the price of your own safety.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Man Who Came Back” by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor, 1943
People often accept oppressive regimes passively when personal safety feels threatened, even as they witness suffering nearby.
In simple terms: Fear and self‑preservation can cause quiet compliance with evil.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist passive complicity.
Themes
obedience
fear
complicity
self‑preservation
social pressure
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
ethical
historical
When to use this quote
- witnessing injustice
- daily life under oppression
- personal safety decisions
- community response to persecution
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
psychology of conformity
moral responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How might you act when safety conflicts with moral duty?
- What small steps can break collective passivity?
A Different Perspective
Passive acceptance may protect the individual but enables systemic cruelty.
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