Quote by Naguib Mahfouz
History is full of people who went to prison or were burned at the stake for proclaiming their ideas. Society has always defended itself.
Summary
This quote suggests that throughout history, individuals who voiced their ideas and beliefs often faced severe consequences such as imprisonment or execution. Society, it is implied, sought to safeguard its prevailing norms and values by suppressing dissenting voices. The quote draws attention to the resistance and hostility encountered by those who challenged established social structures, emphasizing the constant struggle between individuals advocating change and societies aiming to maintain their existing order. It highlights the historical pattern of society's defensive actions to protect its collective ideology, often at the expense of the outspoken minority.