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About this quote

What does it mean?
The author questions the contradiction between human innocence at birth and their violent actions later.
In plain terms
How can people start pure but end up causing so much violence?
What can you take from it?
Human potential for violence contrasts sharply with inherent innocence.

Where it applies

  • reflecting on humanity
  • analyzing conflict
  • personal introspection

Putting it to work

  • examine human behavior
  • consider moral decline

Questions to consider

  • How do we preserve innocence?
  • Why does violence become common?

Another view

Not all humans end with blood on their hands; this generalizes negatively.

More from Orson Scott Card

  1. I really don't fear death. I never knew that.

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  2. We pretend to be whatever we must in order to survive.

    Permalink to quote #167
  3. He had no shred of fear or hatred in him.

    Permalink to quote #164

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