Destructive

Famous quotes containing the word destructive:

    [U]nless a woman is held, by man, safe within the bounds of belief, she becomes inevitably a destructive force.
    —D.H. (David Herbert)

    The result of civilization, at the Sandwich Islands and elsewhere, is found productive to the civilizers, destructive to the civilizees. It is said to be compensation—a very philosophical word; but it appears to be very much on the principle of the old game, “You lose, I win”: good philosophy for the winner.
    Herman Melville (1819–1891)

    Can we not teach children, even as we protect them from victimization, that for them to become victimizers constitutes the greatest peril of all, specifically the sacrifice—physical or psychological—of the well-being of other people? And that destroying the life or safety of other people, through teasing, bullying, hitting or otherwise, “putting them down,” is as destructive to themselves as to their victims.
    Lewis P. Lipsitt (20th century)