Barbaric Quote by Ryszard Kapuscinski
“First you destroy those who create values. Then you destroy those who know what the values are, and who also know that those destroyed before were in fact the creators of values. But real barbarism begins when no one can any longer judge or know that what he does is barbaric.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski, 1998
When those who generate value are eliminated, followed by those who understand it, society loses moral compass, leading to unchecked barbarism.
In simple terms: Removing creators and their knowledge breeds lawlessness.
Key Takeaway
Preserve and protect creators and critical thinkers.
Themes
power
morality
societal decay
knowledge
barbarism
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political upheaval
- cultural revolution
- authoritarian regimes
- media suppression
- education reform
Key Concepts
Ethics
social collapse
value creation
Questions to Reflect On
- Who decides what is barbaric?
- How can societies safeguard moral judgment?
A Different Perspective
Even without overt cruelty, the loss of judgment can erode humanity.
![“These are barbaric people [at ISIS]. These are people that - you know, I used to study medieval times, and you know, they chopped off heads. But until recently, this was a phenomena that you wouldn't see, the level of barbarism is unbelievable.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bf7/donald-trump-18_barbaric_these-are-barbaric-people-at-isis-these_930580.jpg)
