It's not their theories I object to, but them themselves…
““It's not their theories I object to, but them themselves. You think if you married Moreton you'd be going into a great new world of idealism. You wouldn't. You'd be going into a world of failure—of the pettiest, most futile quarrels in the world. The chief characteristic of the man who fails is that he always believes it's the other fellow's fault; and they hate the man who differs with them by one per cent more than they hate the man who differs by one hundred. Has there ever been a revolution where they did not persecute their fellow revolutionists worse than they persecuted the old order, or where the new rule wasn't more tyrannical than the old?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Revolutions often replace one oppressive system with another, as human nature repeats fault-finding and power abuse.
In simple terms: Power shifts rarely change underlying human flaws.
Key Takeaway
Beware of new regimes repeating old mistakes.
Themes
power
revolution
human nature
fault
tyranny
ideology
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political activism
- leadership
- organizational change
- social movements
- policy reform
Key Concepts
political theory
history
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can revolutions avoid becoming tyrannical?
- What safeguards prevent new leaders from repeating old abuses?
A Different Perspective
Idealistic visions can ignore practical flaws.