Thomas Mann, Lotte in Weimar: The Beloved Returns
"[Men] act in response to an outward situation, and on being presented with an opportunity to conform to a pattern. If the pattern gives licence to cruelty, so much the better. They take advantage of the licence so thoughtlessly, so thoroughly, that it becomes perfectly clear: the generality of mankind are only waiting for the chance, only waiting for outward circumstance to sanction brutality and allow them to be cruel and brutal to their heart's content."
1 Quotes
"[Men] act in response to an outward situation, and on being presented with an opportunity to conform to a pattern. If the pattern gives licence to cruelty, so much the better. They take advantage of the licence so thoughtlessly, so thoroughly, that it becomes perfectly clear: the generality of mankind are only waiting for the chance, only waiting for outward circumstance to sanction brutality and allow them to be cruel and brutal to their heart's content."
"يتصرفون استجابةً لظرفٍ خارجيٍّ، وعندما تُتاحُ لهم فرصةٌ لمسايرةِ نمطٍ ما. فإن كان هذا النمطُ يبيحُ القسوةَ، فيا حبذا! يستغلونَ هذه الرخصةَ بغيرِ اكتراثٍ وبكلِّ استغراقٍ، حتى يتضحَ جلياً أنَّ جمهرةَ البشرِ ما هم إلا ينتظرونَ الفرصةَ، ينتظرونَ الظرفَ الخارجيَّ الذي يشرعنُ لهم الوحشيةَ ويسمحُ لهم بأن يكونوا قساةً ووحشيينَ حتى يشبعوا غليلَهم."
Thomas Mann, Lotte in Weimar: The Beloved Returns
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