In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest monuments sleeps the dust of murder.

Robert G. Ingersoll
About This Quote

I've often wondered how we put up with the people we worship and the great thieves who we honor. We put up with them because of their power, prestige, and money. In most cases, they are responsible for our most cherished institutions and saving our lives numerous times. They have been the benefactors of our society and have been responsible for building our civilization from the ground up.

But it's been a lot more than that. They have been the ones who tried to destroy us and yet we worship them as if they were gods.

Source: Humboldt From The Gods And Other Lectures

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