Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Oppressed groups often seek to become oppressors themselves rather than achieving true freedom.
In plain terms
Victims often want to rule others instead of ending rule altogether.
What can you take from it?
The oppressed often imitate their oppressors instead of seeking freedom.

Where it applies

  • revolutions
  • social justice
  • conflict

Putting it to work

  • seek justice not power
  • break cycles
  • promote equality

Questions to consider

  • What is true freedom?
  • Is revenge a way to be free?

Another view

Many movements genuinely aim for liberation for all.

More from Eric Hoffer

  1. People whose lives are barren and insecure seem to show a greater willingness to obey than people who are self-sufficient and self-confident. To the frustrated…

    Permalink to quote #32
  2. To believe that if we could have but this or that we would be happy is to suppress the realization that the cause of our unhappiness is in our inadequate and b…

    Permalink to quote #34
  3. Collective unity is not the result of the brotherly love of the faithful for each other. The loyalty of the true believer is to the whole - the church, party, …

    Permalink to quote #31

Related quotes

  1. The disposition of mankind, whether as rulers or as fellow-citizens, to impose their own opinions and inclinations as a rule of conduct on others, is so energe…

    John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill quote #18
  2. When there are too many policemen, there can be no liberty. When there are too many soldiers, there can be no peace. When there are too many lawyers, there can…

    Lin YutangLin Yutang quote #19
  3. As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is …

    William O. DouglasWilliam O. Douglas quote #26