Thursday, December 03, 2009

I think I am allowed to conclude, as a fact established by modern history, that everyone, or nearly everyone, in a given set of circumstances, does what he is told to do; and, pardon me, but there's not much chance that you're the exception, any more than I was. If you were born in a country in a time not only when nobody comes to kill your wife and children, but also nobody comes to ask you to kill the wives and children of others, then render thanks to God and go in peace. But always keep this thought in mind: you might be luckier than I, but you're not a better person. Because if you have the arrogance to think you are, that's just where the danger begins.

--The Kindly Ones, Jonathan Littell

2 comments:

robert61 said...

Have you read it, and if so, is it all it's cracked up to be? That's a great quote.

Dennis Dale said...

Just started. We'll see. I sometimes humor myself that I've found a moment in a book or film that encapsulates the work entire; this struck me as one.

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