Compassion Quote by Steven Erikson
““The man who never smiles Drags his nets through the deep And we are gathered To gape in the drowning air Beneath the buffeting sound Of his dreaded voice Speaking of salvation In the repast of justice done And fed well on the laden table Heaped with noble desires He tells us all this to hone the edge Of his eternal mercy Slicing our bellies open One by one. In the Kingdom of Meaning Well””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Malazan Book of the Fallen, 2000
A bleak portrait of a tyrannical figure who uses lofty rhetoric to justify cruelty, revealing how power can mask violence.
In simple terms: Powerful leaders can hide brutality behind grand language.
Key Takeaway
Beware charismatic authority that masks harm.
Themes
authority
violence
language
morality
power
Mood
somber
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political speeches
- corporate meetings
- religious sermons
- media broadcasts
Key Concepts
totalitarianism
rhetoric
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What signs reveal hidden cruelty in leaders?
- How does language shape our perception of power?
A Different Perspective
The quote’s poetic style may obscure its concrete meaning for some readers.
