What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Christopher HitchensRead
In a public dialogue with Salman in London he [Edward Said] had once described the Palestinian plight as one where his people, expelled and dispossessed by Jewish victors, were in the unique historical position of being 'the victims of the victims': there was something quasi-Christian, I thought, in the apparent humility of that statement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the complex nature of victimhood and historical injustice.
Christopher Hitchens discusses Edward Said's perspective on the Palestinian plight, illustrating how the Palestinians, who have suffered dispossession and violence, are seen as 'the victims of the victims.' This statement highlights the tragic irony of their situation, suggesting a depth of humility in acknowledging the suffering experienced by both Palestinians and Jews in their historical conflict.
Themes
PalestinianVictimhoodHistoricalInjusticeHumility
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on social justice, one might quote this to emphasize the complexity of victimhood.
More from Christopher Hitchens
All quotes →Never ask while you are doing it if what you are doing is fun. Don't introduce even your most reliably witty acquaintance as someone who will set the table on a roar.
Christopher HitchensRead
[E]xceptional claims demand exceptional evidence.
Christopher HitchensRead
The worst days are when you feel foggy in the head - chemo-brain they call it. It's awful because you feel boring. As well as bored. And stupid. And resigned.
Christopher HitchensRead
Let me tell you something: for hundreds of thousands of years, this kind of discussion would have been impossible to have, or those like us would have been having it at the risk of our lives. Religion now comes to us in this smiley-face, ingratiating way — because it’s had to give so much more ground and because we know so much more. But you’ve got no right to forget the way it behaved when it was strong, and when it really did believe that it had God on its side.
Christopher HitchensRead
I boldly assert, in fact I think I know, that a lot of friendships and connections absolutely depend upon a sort of shared language, or slang. Not necessarily designed to exclude others, this can establish a certain comity and, even after a long absence, re-establish it in a second.
Christopher HitchensRead
Similar quotes
And weren't, when you got right down to it, particularly evil. Human beings mostly aren't. They just get carried away by new ideas, like dressing up in jackboots and shooting people, or dressing up in white sheets and lynching people, or dressing up in tie-dye jeans and and playing guitar at people. Offer people a new creed with a costume and their hearts and minds will follow.
Neil GaimanRead
Indeed, there is nothing more arbitrary than intervening as a stranger in a destiny which is not ours.
Simone De BeauvoirRead
It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake.
Pope Benedict XviRead
And when we look in through the windows, all we see are shadows. And when we try and listen, all we hear is a whispering. And we cannot understand the whispering, because our minds have been invaded by a war. A war that we have both won and lost. The very worst sort of war. A war that captures dreams and re-dreams them. A war that has made us adore our conquerors and despise ourselves.
Arundhati RoyRead
Taxing is an easy business. Any projector can contrive new impositions; any bungler can add to the old; but is it altogether wise to have no other bounds to your impositions than the patience of those who are to bear them?
Edmund BurkeRead
There really is no such thing as a sick child; there are children who happen to be sick. Think about it, and you will understand the magic of the Camps
Paul NewmanRead