War Quote by Lawrence Keeley
![“...an early missionary in New Zealand heard a Maori warrior taunting the preserved head of an enemy chief in the following fashion: You wanted to run away, did you? but my meri (war club] overtook you: and after you were cooked, you made food for my mouth. And where is your father? he is cooked…” quote by Lawrence Keeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/25f/lawrence-keeley-132405_war_an-early-missionary-in-new-zealand-heard_2069152.jpg)
““...an early missionary in New Zealand heard a Maori warrior taunting the preserved head of an enemy chief in the following fashion: You wanted to run away, did you? but my meri (war club] overtook you: and after you were cooked, you made food for my mouth. And where is your father? he is cooked: and where is your brother? he is eaten:-and where is your wife? there she sits, a wife for me:-and where are your children? there they are, with loads on their backs, carrying food, as my slaves.' In Maori warfare, decapitation marked the beginning, not the end, of a vanquished warrior's humiliation.””
About This Quote
A Maori warrior’s taunt illustrates how decapitation was used to humiliate enemies, reflecting cultural warfare practices and dehumanization.
In simple terms: Decapitation was a symbolic act of humiliation in Maori war.
Key Takeaway
Respect cultural contexts of war.
Themes
war
humiliation
culture
violence
psychology
Mood
somber
educational
Type
War:1
Maori Warfare:1
Warfare Decapitation:1
Maori Warrior:1
Slaves Maori:0
Warrior Humiliation:1
When to use this quote
- military education
- museum curation
- cultural studies
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
anthropology
history
ritual warfare
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about Maori values?
- How can we learn from such practices?
A Different Perspective
Modern audiences may misinterpret symbolism.
