“How it is that Bengal with all its knowledge, intelligence, sacrifice, and emotion tolerates this slaughter?”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Gandhi's autobiography ('The Story of My Experiments with Truth'), reflection on animal sacrifice at the Kali temple in Calcutta.
About this quote
The force of the question is the gap between a society's obvious intelligence and the cruelty it accepts out of habit. Custom can numb conscience, letting thoughtful people wave through what they would never defend if they looked at it fresh.
When to use it
- A team full of smart people tolerates a bullying manager because that's how it has always been.
- A town proud of its schools overlooks how it treats its poorest residents.
- A family that prizes kindness keeps a cruel tradition alive without ever questioning it.