Books Quote by Ursula K. Le Guin
““I know who you are," she said. "You're my enemy. The true believer. The righteous man with the righteous mission. The one that jails people for reading and burns the books. That persecutes people who do exercises the wrong way. That dumps out the medicine and pisses on it. That pushes the button that sends the drones to drop the bombs. And hides behind a bunker and doesn't get hurt. Shielded by God. Or the state. Or whatever lie he uses to hide his envy and self-interest and cowardice and lust for power. It took me a while to see you, though. You saw me right away. You knew I was your enemy. Was unrighteous. How did you know it?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Dispossessed, 1974
A character confronts a powerful, self‑righteous authority that hides behind ideology to justify oppression and violence.
In simple terms: A self‑righteous oppressor hides behind belief to harm others.
Key Takeaway
Question authority that hides behind belief.
Themes
power
ideology
oppression
hypocrisy
Mood
defiant
critical
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- academic debate
- personal relationships
- media criticism
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
moral blindness
psychology of control
Questions to Reflect On
- What signs reveal hidden oppression?
- How can we resist moral hypocrisy?
A Different Perspective
The quote may dramatize conflict, limiting its applicability to subtle everyday power dynamics.
