--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is our own participation in…" description: "\"Why is our own participation in scapegoating so difficult to perceive and the participation of others so easy? To us, our fears and prejudices never ap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/rene-girard-8541_difficult_why-is-our-own-participation-in-scapegoa_2264751.jpg" --- # Why is our own participation in scapegoating so difficult… ![“Why is our own participation in scapegoating so difficult to perceive and the participation of others so easy? To us, our fears and prejudices never appear as such because they determine our vision of people we despise, we fear, and against whom we discriminate.” quote by Rene Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/rene-girard-8541_difficult_why-is-our-own-participation-in-scapegoa_2264751.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/rene-girard-8541_difficult_why-is-our-own-participation-in-scapegoa_2264751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/rene-girard-8541_difficult_why-is-our-own-participation-in-scapegoa_2264751.jpg) > “Why is our own participation in scapegoating so difficult to perceive and the participation of others so easy? To us, our fears and prejudices never appear as such because they determine our vision of people we despise, we fear, and against whom we discriminate.” [Rene Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-girard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We fail to see our own bias because it shapes our worldview, while we easily spot bias in others. **In simple terms:** Self‑bias is invisible, other‑bias is obvious. Key Takeaway Question personal prejudices. Themes psychology bias perception conflict human nature Mood introspective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - social analysis - conflict resolution Key Concepts social identity scapegoating ego defense group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize your own scapegoating? - What steps expose hidden prejudices? A Different Perspective Bias is often rationalized, making change hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Discriminate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-discriminate-5225043/) [Fears Prejudices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears-prejudices-4695270/) [Participation Scapegoating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participation-scapegoating-5225040/) [Prejudices Appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudices-appear-5225042/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Scapegoating Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scapegoating-difficult-5225041/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [Artists speak to a different part of us, bypassing the cloudy filter of reason and the fears and prejudices of the habitual mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-nisker/artists-speak-to-a-different-part-of-us-bypassing-the-cloudy-filter/) [Wes Nisker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-nisker/) > [I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-hope-that-someday-we-will-be-able-to-put-away-our-fears-and/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“We cannot let our hurts, fears, and prejudices get in the way of God’s calling for our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-schultz/we-cannot-let-our-hurts-fears-and-prejudices-get-in-the-way-of-god-s/) [Teresa Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-schultz/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“A true God given vision brings provision. 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