"I stood up as best I could to their disgusting stupidity and brutality, but I did not, of course, manage to beat them at their own game. It was a fight to the bitter end, one in which I was not defending ideals or beliefs but simply my own self"

This quote by George Grosz speaks with the powerlessness of the person in the face of oppressive forces. He speaks of standing up to the "revolting stupidity and cruelty" of those in power, but acknowledges that he was unable to beat them at their own game. He was not fighting for any particular suitables or beliefs, but just for his own self-preservation. This quote speaks to the powerlessness of the individual in the face of overbearing forces, and the requirement to fight for one's own survival. It is a reminder that even when faced with overwhelming odds, it is necessary to stand up for oneself and defend what is right. Grosz's words are a suggestion that even in the face of misfortune, it is possible to discover strength and nerve to eliminate for what is right.