Airplane Quote by Lionel Shriver
““...violence is anything an airplane can do to a cloud””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Female of the Species, Lionel Shriver, 1996
Violence can be as intangible as an airplane’s impact on a cloud, suggesting subtle, pervasive harm.
In simple terms: Violence can be subtle and pervasive.
Key Takeaway
Notice and address hidden harms.
Themes
violence
subtlety
impact
perception
Mood
concerned
provocative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- media consumption
- online harassment
- environmental damage
- interpersonal conflict
Key Concepts
metaphor
environmental analogy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we differentiate subtle from overt violence?
- What responsibilities do we have to recognize hidden harm?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may trivialize serious violence by comparing it to a natural phenomenon.
