Art of life Quote by Wilbert Rideau
“Solitary confinement has been used extensively, it always has. I was in prison for 44 years; it was a normal part of life - the practice of it. They put you in solitary confinement for disciplinary reasons, they put you in solitary confinement to protect you from violence or whatever, and they also put you in solitary confinement just to show you who has got the power ... It's not something new; it's just something that nobody really cared about in the past.”
About This Quote
Source Memoir: In the Dark, 1995
Solitary confinement is a longstanding, often ignored tool of control, used for discipline, protection, or power display.
In simple terms: Solitary has been used to control and show power.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge systemic abuses.
Themes
justice
power
human rights
Mood
somber
critical
Type
memoir
advocacy
When to use this quote
- prison reform
- human rights advocacy
- policy debate
Key Concepts
institutional oppression
psychological impact
legal reform
Questions to Reflect On
- What reforms could reduce reliance on solitary?
- How does isolation affect mental health long‑term?
A Different Perspective
May not reflect recent reforms or variations across systems.
![“[Solitary confinement] is terrible. That is terrible. You're in a grave. You can't do anything. Everything's brought to you and you're in a room all day, except to come out of the showers. So when I would come out, I would entertain myself by singing, doing little mock concerts. And then when I…” quote by Megan Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/115/megan-sweeney-180683_incarcerated-women_solitary-confinement-is-terrible-that-is_740216.jpg)
