--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps that is the greatest crime of…" description: "\"“Perhaps that is the greatest crime of conquest--that a civilization is denied the right to evolve beyond its own embarrassment.”\" — Neal Shusterman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/neal-shusterman-412_civilization_perhaps-that-is-the-greatest-crime-of-co_2360235.png" --- # Perhaps that is the greatest crime of conquest--that a… ![“Perhaps that is the greatest crime of conquest--that a civilization is denied the right to evolve beyond its own embarrassment.” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/neal-shusterman-412_civilization_perhaps-that-is-the-greatest-crime-of-co_2360235.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/neal-shusterman-412_civilization_perhaps-that-is-the-greatest-crime-of-co_2360235.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c6/neal-shusterman-412_civilization_perhaps-that-is-the-greatest-crime-of-co_2360235.png) > ““Perhaps that is the greatest crime of conquest--that a civilization is denied the right to evolve beyond its own embarrassment.”” [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conquest can suppress a culture’s natural growth, forcing it to remain stuck in shameful habits. **In simple terms:** Conquest can imprison a civilization’s development. Key Takeaway Allow cultures to evolve beyond past mistakes. Themes culture history ethics Mood reflective critical Type philosophical social When to use this quote - education reform - policy making - social activism - cultural preservation Key Concepts colonialism civilizational development Questions to Reflect On - How can societies break free from inherited shame? - What responsibilities do conquerors have to enable growth? A Different Perspective Even after conquest, societies may cling to outdated norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [National identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-identity/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) ## Related quotes > [When men and women, boys and girls, are denied the right to education, the right to own land, the access to basic services like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/when-men-and-women-boys-and-girls-are-denied-the-right-to-education/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [My objection to war was not that I had to kill somebody or be killed senselessly, that hardly mattered. 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