In the book "Good Men" by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, the character Bringas reflects on the state of resignation among the oppressed. He observes that people kneel and show reverence to those in power, such as priests and princes, because they were taught by their parents to submit to authority. This submission perpetuates a cycle of oppression, where the oppressed become complicit in their own subjugation.

Bringas emphasizes that the real issue is not the tyrants themselves, but rather the willingness of the oppressed to accept their fate. This notion suggests that the social order is maintained not solely by tyranny, but by the acceptance and internalization of that tyranny by the people. Their defeatism contributes to the power dynamic that allows tyrants to thrive.