Bystander

You know what these four people were? They were innocent bystanders. ~ Jackie Chiles

A bystander is a person who, although present at some event, does not take part in it.

Quotes

• You ask, "What about the innocent bystanders?" But we are in a time of revolution. If you are a bystander, you are not innocent.
  • Abbie Hoffman, Revolution for the hell of it (1968), p. 183

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• I am shocked and chagrined, mortified and stupefied. This trial is outrageous! It is a waste of the taxpayers' time and money. It is a travesty of justice that these four people have been incarcerated while the real perpetrator is walking around laughing - lying and laughing, laughing and lying. You know what these four people were? They were innocent bystanders. Now, you just think about that term. Innocent. Bystanders. Because that's exactly what they were. We know they were bystanders, nobody's disputing that. So how can a bystander be guilty? No such thing. Have you ever heard of a guilty bystander? No, because you cannot be a bystander and be guilty. Bystanders are, by definition, innocent. That is the nature of by-standing. But no, they want to change nature here. They want to create a whole new animal - the guilty bystander. Don't you let them do it. Only you can stop them.
  • Jackie Chiles, Seinfeld, "The Finale", May 14, 1998

See also

• Bystander effect