--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is said that our indigenous ancestors…" description: "\"It is said that our indigenous ancestors, Mayas and Aztecs, made human sacrifices to their gods. It occurs to me to ask: How many humans have been sacr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/rigoberta-menchu-13774_ancestor_it-is-said-that-our-indigenous-ancestors_1267495.jpg" --- # It is said that our indigenous ancestors, Mayas and… ![“It is said that our indigenous ancestors, Mayas and Aztecs, made human sacrifices to their gods. It occurs to me to ask: How many humans have been sacrificed to the gods of Capital in the last five hundred years?” quote by Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/rigoberta-menchu-13774_ancestor_it-is-said-that-our-indigenous-ancestors_1267495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/rigoberta-menchu-13774_ancestor_it-is-said-that-our-indigenous-ancestors_1267495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/rigoberta-menchu-13774_ancestor_it-is-said-that-our-indigenous-ancestors_1267495.jpg) > “It is said that our indigenous ancestors, Mayas and Aztecs, made human sacrifices to their gods. It occurs to me to ask: How many humans have been sacrificed to the gods of Capital in the last five hundred years?” [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Capitalism demands human lives like ancient rituals, sacrificing people for profit and power. **In simple terms:** Capitalism sacrifices people for profit. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist exploitation. Themes economics ethics history power exploitation Mood critical concerned reflective Type ethical political social When to use this quote - Corporate profit drives - political lobbying - environmental damage - labor exploitation - consumerism Key Concepts Capitalism sacrifice human cost Questions to Reflect On - How does modern capitalism compare to ancient sacrifices? - What responsibilities do individuals have to challenge systemic exploitation? A Different Perspective Capitalism also creates wealth and innovation, complicating moral judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Ancestors Mayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestors-mayas-4051077/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Human Sacrifices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-sacrifices-405358/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humans Sacrificed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans-sacrificed-4051076/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Indigenous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrificed Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrificed-gods-3370930/) [Sacrifices Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifices-gods-2126891/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“turned out Queen Metaneira was there with her family and her household guards, offering sacrifices to the gods in celebration of the birth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/turned-out-queen-metaneira-was-there-with-her-family-and-her/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“You will be sacrificed to the gods, and then I will tear out your heart with my own hands." 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After all, it is slightly better than using live human sacrifices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-in-religious-ceremonies-after-all-it-is/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Our ideals, like the gods of old, are constantly demanding human sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/our-ideals-like-the-gods-of-old-are-constantly-demanding-human/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“There were rituals that sometimes involved animal sacrifices, but there is no record of human sacrifices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-carlson/there-were-rituals-that-sometimes-involved-animal-sacrifices-but/) [Robert Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-carlson/) > [“The pre-history of our species is hag-ridden with episodes of nightmarish ignorance and calamity, for which religion used to identify, not just the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-pre-history-of-our-species-is-hag-ridden-with-episodes-of/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There is a great ladder of religious cruelty, and, of its many rungs, three are the most important. 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Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-j-h-hayes/) > [“Since time began man has been struggling with the problem of behavior. In early days, when almost every human attribute had its counterpart in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-e-lawes/since-time-began-man-has-been-struggling-with-the-problem-of-behavior/) [Lewis E. 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They loved & hated each other at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-chong/this-was-because-after-the-birth-of-priapus-they-had-developed-a-love/) [Nicholas Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-chong/) ## More by Rigoberta Menchu > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [This is why Indians are thought to be stupid. They can't think, they don't know anything, they say. 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I blame the first world for having taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-culture-of-death-is-imposed-by-economic-and-political-interests/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [“Este mundo no va a cambiar a menos que estemos dispuestos a cambiar nosotros mismos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/este-mundo-no-va-a-cambiar-a-menos-que-estemos-dispuestos-a-cambiar/) [Rigoberta Menchú](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [For me, to celebrate the twelfth of October is the absolute expression of triumphism, occupation and presumptuousness, and I think that history will remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/for-me-to-celebrate-the-twelfth-of-october-is-the-absolute-expression/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I wasn't the only orphan in Guatemala. 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