Asylum Quote by Willa Cather
““...You know that my spells come from God, and that I would not harm any living creature. You believe that everyone should worship God in the way revealed to him. But that is not the way of this country. The way here is for all to do alike. I am despised because I do not wear shoes, because I do not cut my hair, and because I have visions. At home, in the old country, there were many like me, who had been touched by God, or who had seen things in the graveyard at night and were different afterward. We thought nothing of it, and let them alone. But here, if a man is different in his feet or in his head, they put him in the asylum. . . . That is the way; they have built the asylum for people who are different, and they will not even let us live in the holes with the badgers.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: My Ántonia by Willa Cather, 1918
A marginalized individual describes how society forces conformity, punishing those who differ in belief, appearance, or visions, and uses institutions like asylums to suppress uniqueness.
In simple terms: Society forces conformity and punishes difference.
Key Takeaway
Respect and protect individuality.
Themes
conformity
persecution
identity
marginalization
religion
Mood
defiant
somber
reflective
Type
narrative
social commentary
When to use this quote
- immigrant experience
- religious minorities
- mental health advocacy
- cultural clash
Key Concepts
social control
othering
institutional oppression
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance social cohesion with individual freedom?
- What role should institutions play in protecting the different?
A Different Perspective
Not all societies label difference as illness; some celebrate diversity.
