Empty shell Quote by William F. Buckley Jr
![“...my beloved Eudosia [a member of Buckley's household staff], who is Cuban, very large, quite old, and altogether superstitious, and speaks only a word or two of English (even though she has been with us for 19 years), is quite certain that the gentleman who raped the 16-year-old girl in New…” quote by William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/659/william-f-buckley-jr-2-34056_empty-shell_my-beloved-eudosia-a-member-of-buckley-s_2589657.jpg)
““...my beloved Eudosia [a member of Buckley's household staff], who is Cuban, very large, quite old, and altogether superstitious, and speaks only a word or two of English (even though she has been with us for 19 years), is quite certain that the gentleman who raped the 16-year-old girl in New Caanan three years ago and escaped has successfully eluded the police only because of his resourceful determination to ravage Eudosia before he dies. Accordingly she demanded, and I gave her, a shotgun, into which I have inserted two empty shells. Still, Eudosia with blank cartridges is more formidable than Eugene McCarthy with The Bomb.””
About This Quote
A superstitious servant believes a criminal evades capture due to a personal vendetta, leading her to arm herself with a shotgun, which is more intimidating than a political figure with a bomb.
In simple terms: Superstition drives a servant to arm herself against a criminal, outshining a politician’s threat.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how fear and superstition can motivate extreme actions.
Themes
superstition
violence
political satire
Mood
satirical
darkly humorous
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- crime investigation
- political discourse
- personal safety
Key Concepts
psychology
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the servant’s belief reveal about fear?
- How does satire affect perception of real threats?
A Different Perspective
Satire may obscure serious underlying issues.
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