Janis Ian Quotes

Nothing gives small minds a better handle for hatred than superiority.

I think there's always going to be some kind of bigotry or some kind of racism. There has to be, because people can't feel that they have any hero qualities unless there's someone beneath them.

Both racism and homophobia come from a sense of the presumed and the unknown.

I haven't experienced a lot of prejudice in my life, but I'm not naive to what goes on in the world.

Simple peck-order bullying is only the beginning of the kind of hierarchical behavior that can lead to racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, classism, and all the other 'isms' that cause so much suffering in the world.

Snobbery? But it's only a form of despair.

It seems to be part of the human condition to need someone you can look down on. I still don't get that one.

Sometimes, unfortunately, hatred is more powerful than progress.

How it infuriates a bigot, when he is forced to drag out his dark convictions!

It is, of course, the first recourse of every elitist to see social barbarism in others.

Racism springs from the lie that certain human beings are less than fully human. It's a self-centered falsehood that corrupts our minds into believing we are right to treat others as we would not want to be treated.

Ageism is as odious as racism and sexism.

The worst moment in my life was when I was seven years old and I discovered that there was a thing such as racism. You don't know you're different until someone lets you know.

Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.

Bigotry should never be sanctioned, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Any deviation is looked upon as a perversion, is feared, and is usually a target of hatred and prejudice.

You've got to be taught to hate and fear.

Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture.

Prejudice of any kind implies that you are identified with the thinking mind. It means you don't see the other human being anymore, but only your own concept of that human being. To reduce the aliveness of another human being to a concept is already a form of violence.

It's interesting to take a look at people who deal with prejudice on a daily basis - it's been a real eye opener for me.

If anyone wants to abuse other people for whatever colour, race or creed they are, then it's just stupidness, isn't it?

…an aristocratic, arbitrary ass.

Prejudices are the props of civilization.

Doesn't make any difference who we are or what we are, there's always somebody to look down on.

What is new in our time is the increased power of the authorities to enforce their prejudices.