Quotes from Once We Were Brothers

Ronald H. Balson ·  379 pages

Rating: (26.1K votes)


“Find a reason to turn your nose up at a culture, to denigrate a people because they are different, and it's not such a giant leap from ethnic subjugation to ethnic slaughter”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers


“It’s another reminder of what can happen when evil is allowed to incubate. Find a reason to turn your nose up at a culture, to denigrate a people because they’re different, and it’s not such a giant leap from ethnic subjugation to ethnic slaughter.”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers


“Ti fidi di chi ti è vicino?
Sei pronto a credergli per sempre?
Nessuno è quello che sembra.
Adesso stai per capirlo.”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers


“Nazi persecution didn’t limit itself to race. Religion, national origin, alternative lifestyles, persons with disabilities—all were targets. How would you characterize the Slavs? Gypsies? Moors? All the lines get blurred. Even within Judaism, there are many races. There are Negro Jews in Ethiopia and Middle Eastern Jews in Iraq. There have been Jews in Japan since the 1860s. Poland was fractionally Jewish, but there were still three and a half million Jews living there in the 1930s.” “But still, today it all seems so incomprehensible.” Ben raised his eyebrows. “Incomprehensible because we’re Americans? Land of the free and home of the brave? Let’s not kid ourselves. We’ve authored our own chapters in the history of shame, periods where the world looked at us and shook its head. Early America built an economy based on slavery and it was firmly supported by law. Read the Supreme Court’s decision in Dred Scott. We trampled entire cultures of Native Americans. ‘No Irish Need Apply’ was written on factory gates in nineteenth-century New York.” Ben shook his head. “We’d like to think we’re beyond such hatred, but the fact is, we can never let our guard down. That’s why this case is so important. To you and to me. It’s another reminder of what can happen when evil is allowed to incubate. Find a reason to turn your nose up at a culture, to denigrate a people because they’re different, and it’s not such a giant leap from ethnic subjugation to ethnic slaughter.” Catherine”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers


“Catherine’s a lawyer, she doesn’t find people. Does this involve a court case?” “No.”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers



“A birth certificate from Frankfurt proves nothing,” Ben said weakly from his chair.”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers


“The doors of decision are one-way only. You can never go back. I’ll never be the same person again.”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers


“going to represent him. I’m either going to file a civil suit or I’m”
― Ronald H. Balson, quote from Once We Were Brothers


About the author

Ronald H. Balson
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