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Literary notes about Persecution (AI summary)

The term "persecution" in literature has often been used to evoke the harsh realities of intolerance and the suffering inflicted upon individuals or groups, whether due to their beliefs, social status, or personal circumstances. In historical narratives such as those found in Fox's Book of Martyrs [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] and the accounts of religious strife [6, 7, 8], it is depicted as a systematic, state-sanctioned backlash against nonconformity, often resulting in martyrdom and mass suffering. In contrast, more reflective works like John Stuart Mill's On Liberty [9, 10, 11, 12] analyze persecution as an inescapable element of societal progress and as a test of truth, suggesting that it often serves as both a catalyst for reform and a subject of moral introspection. Similarly, literature such as that by Aaron Bernstein [13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19] and literary narratives like Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment [20] explore persecution in multifaceted ways—both as historical fact and as a metaphor for the emotional and psychological trials individuals must endure.
  1. It was the will of God in Mary's reign to bring a fourth upon this kingdom, under the form of Papistical Persecution.
    — from Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
  2. Agrape, Chioma, and Irene, three sisters, were seized upon at Thessalonica, when Diocletian's persecution reached Greece.
    — from Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
  3. Trajan being succeeded by Adrian, the latter continued this third persecution with as much severity as his predecessor.
    — from Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
  4. The Eighth Persecution, under Valerian, A. D. 257 , Began under Valerian, in the month of April, 257, and continued for three years and six months.
    — from Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
  5. Thus far our history of persecution has been confined principally to the pagan world.
    — from Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
  6. Persecution, says he, all the history of the world is full of it.
    — from Ulysses by James Joyce
  7. To attribute the persecution of the Jews to Christianity is therefore ludicrous.
    — from Secret societies and subversive movements by Nesta Helen Webster
  8. At the close of this volume will be found a sketch of the French revolution of 1789, as connected with persecution.
    — from Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
  9. But, indeed, the dictum that truth always triumphs over persecution, is one of those pleasant
    — from On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
  10. History teems with instances of truth put down by persecution.
    — from On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
  11. But let us not flatter ourselves that we are yet free from the stain even of legal persecution.
    — from On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
  12. Persecution has always succeeded, save where the heretics were too strong a party to be effectually persecuted.
    — from On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
  13. Both of them, however, scarcely touched upon the point, and were contented with abuse, cursing, and persecution.
    — from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein
  14. He had consequently to undergo much persecution and loss of property.
    — from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein
  15. He may shrink from the persecution, the trials, the troubles, and the sacrifices a public profession of his faith would entail.
    — from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein
  16. He opened the book at the Acts of the Apostles and read of Paul's persecution by the Jews.
    — from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein
  17. (I wish it to be clearly understood that this persecution was not in enmity to myself personally, but rather in friendship and mistaken zeal.
    — from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein
  18. The inevitable ostracism and persecution, with their attendant sufferings, followed.
    — from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein
  19. Persecution is contrary to the spirit of Jesus.
    — from Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by Aaron Bernstein
  20. “Quite so, but what drove him, or rather perhaps disposed him, to suicide was the systematic persecution and severity of Mr. Svidrigaïlov.”
    — from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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