--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The tragedy is what - given the 'right…" description: "\"The tragedy is what - given the 'right circumstances,' - normal decent folks, like you and me, will do. This is what makes me worry whenever looking on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/zygmunt-bauman-1861_circumstances_the-tragedy-is-what-given-the-right-circ_682800.png" --- # The tragedy is what - given the 'right circumstances,'… ![“The tragedy is what - given the 'right circumstances,' - normal decent folks, like you and me, will do. This is what makes me worry whenever looking on the road that Israel entered and shows no intention of leaving.” quote by Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/zygmunt-bauman-1861_circumstances_the-tragedy-is-what-given-the-right-circ_682800.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/zygmunt-bauman-1861_circumstances_the-tragedy-is-what-given-the-right-circ_682800.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/zygmunt-bauman-1861_circumstances_the-tragedy-is-what-given-the-right-circ_682800.png) > “The tragedy is what - given the 'right circumstances,' - normal decent folks, like you and me, will do. This is what makes me worry whenever looking on the road that Israel entered and shows no intention of leaving.” [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People can commit atrocities when circumstances enable them, even ordinary individuals. **In simple terms:** Circumstances can turn ordinary people into perpetrators. Key Takeaway Beware how environments shape behavior. Themes human nature morality societal pressure Mood concerned reflective Type ethical analytical When to use this quote - political conflict - workplace culture - online harassment - mass movements Key Concepts Banality of evil structural forces Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when norms shift toward harm? - What safeguards can prevent ordinary people from harming others? A Different Perspective Even with awareness, systemic pressures can still override personal ethics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [As human beings, we have the blessing and the curse that we're able to adapt to almost anything. No matter how extreme the circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/as-human-beings-we-have-the-blessing-and-the-curse-that-we-re-able-to/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [Make whatever decision you wish but never forget one thing: all of you are much better than you believed. 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It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More by Zygmunt Bauman > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > ['I am insecure' means: I can't cope on my own. The odds are overwhelming. I can't resist them on my own. 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If you look back in history, millions of people were killed because of someone's dogmatic views, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/why-are-people-so-concerned-with-relativism-if-you-look-back-in/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [I think that the essential instruction of the Bible is very much topical. The sole problem is that with every change of historical setting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/i-think-that-the-essential-instruction-of-the-bible-is-very-much/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [For intellectual authority, the appropriate version of Descartes 's cogito would be today: I am talked about, therefore I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/for-intellectual-authority-the-appropriate-version-of-descartes-s/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [The problem of insufficient security was, until quite recently, a matter of a minority; now it is becoming very quickly a majority matter. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/the-problem-of-insufficient-security-was-until-quite-recently-a/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) [Explore all 169 Zygmunt Bauman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. 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You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The tragedy is what - given the 'right circumstances,' - normal decent folks, like you and me, will do. 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