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Before I knew that a man could kill a man, because it happens all the time. Now I know that even the person with whom you've shared food, or whom you've slept, even he can kill you with no trouble. The closest neighbor can kill you with his teeth: that is what I have Learned since the genocide, and my eyes no longer gaze the same on the face of the world.
Philip Zimbardo
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the profound distrust and disillusionment that arises from witnessing extreme human violence, suggesting that even those who seem close can betray us.

Philip Zimbardo's quote reflects on the traumatic realization that well-known individuals, like friends or even intimate partners, are capable of extreme betrayal and violence. Through the lens of personal experience, particularly in the context of genocide, Zimbardo conveys the loss of innocence and the unsettling awareness that human relationships can mask deep brutality. This transformation in perception profoundly alters one's worldview, emphasizing a shift from trust to suspicion in human connections.

Themes

BetrayalTrustViolenceGenocideHumanityRelationships

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the impacts of war on society, this quote could illustrate how trauma alters trust.

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Quote by Philip Zimbardo | QuoteProject