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A man who has blown all his options can't afford the luxury of changing his ways. He has to capitalize on whatever he has left, and he can't afford to admit - no matter how often he's reminded of it - that every day of his life takes him farther and farther down a blind alley... Very few toads in this world are Prince Charmings in disguise. Most are simply toads... and they are going to stay that way... Toads don't make laws or change any basic structures, but one or two rooty insights can work powerful changes in the way they get through life. A toad who believes he got a raw deal before he even knew who was dealing will usually be sympathetic to the mean, vindictive ignorance that colors the Hell's Angels' view of humanity. There is not much mental distance between a feeling of having been screwed and the ethic of total retaliation, or at least the random revenge that comes with outraging the public decency.

Hunter S. Thompson#15

SocietyJusticeBehaviorPsychologyIdentity

About this quote

What does it mean?
People feeling wronged may become resentful and vengeful over time.
In plain terms
Those who think they were treated poorly often get angry.
What can you take from it?
Unresolved grievances can turn into hostility.

Where it applies

  • conflict resolution
  • social analysis
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • address past grievances
  • practice empathy

Questions to consider

  • How does feeling screwed affect behavior?
  • Can grudges be healed?

Another view

Not everyone becomes violent when feeling wronged.

More from Hunter S. Thompson

  1. The hard core, the outlaw elite, were the Hell's Angels... wearing the winged death's-head on the back of their sleeveless jackets and packing their 'mamas' be…

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  2. Satan's Slaves, number three in the outlaw hierarchy, custom-bike specialists with a taste for the flesh of young dogs, flashy headbands and tender young blond…

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.

    Permalink to quote #13

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