Few revolutions succeed, and when they do, you often discover they did not gain what you hoped for, and you condemn yourself to perpetual fear, as the parties you defeated may always regain power and work for your ruin.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
The whole underside of our society has always been violence and still is. Churches, laws - everybody seems to think that man is a noble savage. But he's only an animal. A meat-eating, talking animal. Recognize it. He also has grace and love and beauty. But don't say to me we're not violent.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the inherent violence in human nature and society while also acknowledging beauty and grace.
Sam Peckinpah's quote presents a stark view of humanity, asserting that beneath the surface of civilization, we are driven by primal instincts, primarily violence. He critiques the romanticized notion of humans as noble beings, suggesting instead that we are complex creatures capable of both brutality and beauty, and encourages an honest recognition of our darker traits alongside our capacity for kindness and artistry.
Themes
ViolenceHuman NatureSocietyNoble SavageBeautyGrace
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the duality of human nature.
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