The passage of time makes these men seem unhuman. We need to remember that they weren’t dropped on the planet by leather-winged minions of Moloch. They were people. Hitler brushed his teeth; Hitler took a leak and may have whistled while he did so. He may have clipped his toenails while listening to light opera on the Gramophone. Being evil is not a full-time job.

James Lileks (b. 1958) American journalist, columnist

The Bleat (28 Feb. 2003)

http://www.lileks.com/bleats/archive/03/0203/022803.html