The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

by Steven Pinker

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

‘tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner’ [to understand all is to forgive all], I can reply that it is only a temporary suspense of ethical judgment, made because ‘beaucoup condamner c’est peu comprendre’ [to condemn much is to understand little].”27