--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humans persecute their different ones…" description: "\"Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them to give themselves definition and status.\" — Octavia Butler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/octavia-butler-8606_definitions_humans-persecute-their-different-ones-ye_1266460.jpg" --- # Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them… ![“Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them to give themselves definition and status.” quote by Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/octavia-butler-8606_definitions_humans-persecute-their-different-ones-ye_1266460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/octavia-butler-8606_definitions_humans-persecute-their-different-ones-ye_1266460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/octavia-butler-8606_definitions_humans-persecute-their-different-ones-ye_1266460.jpg) > “Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them to give themselves definition and status.” [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans define themselves by contrasting with those they deem different, yet rely on them for identity. **In simple terms:** We need others to define ourselves. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions about “others.” Themes identity difference dependence Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical social When to use this quote - cultural studies - team building - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts Social construct otherness Questions to Reflect On - What defines your identity? - How can we value differences without exploitation? A Different Perspective Can reinforce stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humans Persecute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans-persecute-4044004/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Ones Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ones-need-683986/) [Persecute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecute/) [Persecute Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecute-different-4044005/) ## Related quotes > [Religious people today are courts and juries. 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Let my silence permeate these walls as sunlight permeates a home. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/let-my-silence-grow-with-noise-as-pregnant-mothers-grow-with-life-let/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“Jesus is the perfect name! He who put away his fame! And persecuted in shame! That you will never be the same! It's because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/jesus-is-the-perfect-name-he-who-put-away-his-fame-and-persecuted-in/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Beware of the word control, as it is three in one and frequently denotes bullies - CONTROL(bullies exercise control over their victims) CON (as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cailleach-bheur/beware-of-the-word-control-as-it-is-three-in-one-and-frequently/) [Cailleach Bheur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cailleach-bheur/) ## More by Octavia Butler > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. 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Earthseed: The Books of the Living Lauren Oya Olamina”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/in-order-to-rise-from-its-own-ashes-a-phoenix-first-must-burn/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I'm a fifty-three-year-old writer who can remember being a ten-year-old writer and who expects someday to be an eighty-year-old writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/i-m-a-fifty-three-year-old-writer-who-can-remember-being-a-ten-year/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I'm me, and I'm here, and I'm writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/i-m-me-and-i-m-here-and-i-m-writing/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Most of what I do is science fiction. Some of the things I do are fantasy. 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I wrote myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-only-black-people-you-found-were-occasional-characters-or/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [He was like me - a kindred spirit crazy enough to keep on trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/he-was-like-me-a-kindred-spirit-crazy-enough-to-keep-on-trying/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/to-be-led-by-a-fool-is-to-be-led-by-the-opportunists-who-control-the/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Helpless lust and unreasoning anxiety were just part of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/helpless-lust-and-unreasoning-anxiety-were-just-part-of-growing-up/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) [Explore all 79 Octavia Butler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. 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