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About this quote

What does it mean?
Stein uses physics to argue that persecution backfires, making victims stronger due to equal and opposite reaction.
In plain terms
Persecution makes people stronger, like action and reaction in physics.
What can you take from it?
Oppression can strengthen those it targets.

Where it applies

  • social justice
  • activism
  • conflict dynamics

Putting it to work

  • consider unintended consequences of control
  • support resilient groups

Questions to consider

  • Does oppression strengthen resistance?
  • What happens when you fight back?

Another view

Some groups may be crushed rather than strengthened.

More from Gertrude Stein

  1. The idea of enemies is awful it makes one stop remembering eternity and the fear of death. That is what enemies are. Possessions are the same as enemies only l…

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  2. The nineteenth century believed in science but the twentieth century does not.

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  3. Even the propagandists on the radio find it very difficult to really say let alone believe that the world will be a happy place, of love and peace and plenty, …

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