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Extermination Quotes

Extermination quotes confront some of history's darkest realities, from wartime atrocities to philosophical reflections on how societies justify mass violence. These sayings are sobering by nature, drawn from thinkers examining humanity's capacity for harm.

These extermination quotes grapple with difficult historical and ethical questions, touching on themes also found in Being. Several reflect on how nations reckon - or fail to reckon - with past atrocities.

Could anything justify the extermination of civilians on such a scale?

Quotes by Wilfred Burchett

Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely thrust into the political unconscious can sovereignty feel secure.

Quotes by Terry Eagleton

How is it that, once victory took form and the horrible spectacle of the extermination camps was revealed, we could have shamelessly broken the promises given to the peoples in those years of ordeal?

Quotes by Rene Cassin

Agriculture is now a motorized food industry, the same thing in its essence as the production of corpses in the gas chambers and the extermination camps, the same thing as blockades and the reduction of countries to famine, the same...

Quotes by Martin Heidegger

Adversaries Quotes

Men are fighting... because they are convinced that the extermination of adversaries is the only means of promoting their own well-being.

Quotes by Ludwig von Mises

Every new baby is a blind desperate vote for survival: people who find themselves unable to register an effective political protest against extermination do so by a biological act.

Quotes by Lewis Mumford

The world generally speaking is now drifting on a more and more devastating course towards the absurd target of extermination - or rather, to be more exact - of the northern hemisphere's towns, fields, and the people who have developed...

Quotes by Alva Myrdal

Spring and summer 1942 was probably the worst period of internal terror in Slovakia. It was also the time of mass deportation of Slovak Jews to the extermination camps in Poland.

Quotes by Alexander Dubcek

Frequently Asked Questions

What historical themes do these quotes address?
Several quotes reflect on how nations sometimes avoid confronting the crimes tied to their founding, including invasion, occupation, or extermination. It's a philosophical look at how history gets remembered or suppressed.
Do any quotes connect extermination to warfare directly?
Yes, one quote raises the question of whether anything could justify exterminating civilians on such a scale, framing it as a moral question rather than a factual claim. It challenges readers to consider the ethics of large-scale violence.
Is there a quote linking extermination to industry or agriculture?
One quote draws a stark philosophical comparison between industrialized agriculture and the machinery of mass killing, arguing both share a similar dehumanizing logic. It's an unsettling but deliberately provocative comparison meant to prompt reflection.
What do the quotes say about why people justify extermination?
One quote suggests some believe eliminating adversaries is the only path to their own well-being, describing this as a mistaken but real motivation behind conflict. It's presented critically, not as an endorsement.
Who is this collection intended for?
These quotes suit historical, philosophical, or ethical discussions rather than casual use, and are best approached thoughtfully. They pair well with Being for broader reflection on existence and morality.

This is a heavier topic, drawing on philosophy and history rather than casual reflection. See Anything and Adversaries for related discussions on conflict and justification.