Children Quote by Salman Rushdie
““Midnight has many children; the offspring of Independence were not all human. Violence, corruption, poverty, generals, chaos, greed and pepperpot… I had to go into exile to learn that the children of midnight were more varied that I— even I—had dreamed.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 1990
The speaker reflects on exile, noting that the "children of midnight"—those born from independence—are diverse and often flawed, not all noble.
In simple terms: Independence produces varied people, not all heroic.
Key Takeaway
Exile reveals the complex humanity behind revolutions.
Themes
independence
exile
humanity
diversity
disillusionment
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- post-revolution societies
- diaspora communities
- political analysis
- literary critique
Key Concepts
postcolonial identity
morality
political fallout
Questions to Reflect On
- What does exile teach about the true nature of freedom?
- How can societies reconcile the noble and the corrupt after independence?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing independence can hide its darker outcomes.
