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About this quote

What does it mean?
A nation can only be terrorized if its citizens allow it by remaining silent or complicit.
In plain terms
Terrorism succeeds only when people do nothing to stop it.
What can you take from it?
Do not stand by when tyranny rises.

Where it applies

  • authoritarian regimes
  • social injustice
  • public opinion

Putting it to work

  • speak out
  • refuse complicity
  • support victims

Questions to consider

  • When have you stayed silent when you should have spoken?
  • What stops you from resisting injustice?

Another view

Fear can realistically prevent people from acting against oppression.

More from Edward R. Murrow

  1. If we confuse dissent with disloyalty - if we deny the right of the individual to be wrong, unpopular, eccentric or unorthodox - if we deny the essence of raci…

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  2. He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.

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  3. Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them.

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