Burned Quote by Neil Gaiman
“People kill what they fear. They burned, and drowned, and hanged those they saw as witches, the devil's servants: the wise women and the cunning men, the unfortunate, the lost and the strange”
About This Quote
Source Novel: American Gods by Neil Gaiman, 2001
Societies often destroy those they misunderstand or deem dangerous, projecting fear onto marginalized groups.
In simple terms: People destroy what they fear.
Key Takeaway
Beware fear‑driven persecution.
Themes
fear
persecution
othering
mass hysteria
Mood
dark
cautionary
reflective
Type
warning
social commentary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- witch hunts
- political purges
- online shaming
- cultural scapegoating
Key Concepts
scapegoating
social control
psychology of fear
Questions to Reflect On
- Who have you labeled as threatening without cause?
- How does fear shape collective actions?
A Different Perspective
Fear can be rationalized as protection, leading to unjust violence.