I found one day in school a boy of medium size ill-treating a smaller boy. I expostulated, but he replied: The bigs hit me, so I hit the babies; that's fair. In these words he epitomized the history of the human race.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the cyclical nature of violence and mistreatment among human beings. The person recalling their school experience witnessed a larger child bullying a smaller child and attempts to intervene. However, the bully rationalizes their behavior by asserting that they are merely responding to the mistreatment they receive from others. The quote suggests that throughout history, individuals often justify their own acts of aggression by pointing to past instances of violence against themselves. Thus, it serves as a reflection on the perpetuation of harm and the perceived notion of "fairness" in a world where many mirror the actions of those who have harmed them.

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