Denunciation Quote by René Girard
““It is not law, in any conceivable form, that is responsible for the tensions and alienation besetting modern man; rather, it is the increasing lack of law. The perpetual denunciation of the law arises from a typically modern sense of resentment - a feedback of desire that purports to be directed against the law but one that is actually aimed at the model-obstacle whose dominant position the subject stubbornly refuses to acknowledge. The more frenzied the mimetic process becomes, caught up in the confusion of constantly changing forms, the more unwilling men are to recognize that they have made an obstacle of the model and a model of the obstacle. Here we encounter a true "unconscious" and one that can obviously assume many forms.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Violence and the Sacred, René Girard, 1972
Modern alienation stems not from law itself but from its erosion, causing people to resent the underlying model rather than the law.
In simple terms: Lack of law creates resentment toward its underlying model.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address the loss of guiding structures.
Themes
alienation
law
resentment
model
unconscious
Mood
critical
analytical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- legal reform
- cultural criticism
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
mimetic desire
structural analysis
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the erosion of law affect personal identity?
- What structures can replace the lost model?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook individuals who find meaning despite legal breakdowns.
