The innocent are so few that two of them seldom meet—when they do meet, their victims lie strewn all round.

Bowen’s aphorism turns “innocence” into a dangerous social force rather than a moral virtue. The “innocent” here are not harmless; they are people whose self-image of purity or blamelessness makes them oblivious to consequences. Because they do not recognize their own agency—or refuse responsibility—they can inflict harm while feeling exempt from guilt. When two such people “meet,” their mutual certainty and lack of self-knowledge amplify the damage, leaving “victims” in their wake. The line fits Bowen’s recurring interest in the unintended injuries people cause through emotional blindness, social propriety, or romantic idealization, especially in close relationships where denial can be as destructive as malice.