Their courage is called revolt, their discipline…
![“Their courage is called revolt, their discipline Pharisaism, theirindependence[41.] arbitrariness, and their masterfulness arrogance.[42.] For the tyrannical despiser of humanity, popularity is a sign of the greatest love for humanity. He hides his secret profound distrust of all people behind the…” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/c6a/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_courage_their-courage-is-called-revolt-their-dis_967774.jpg)
““Their courage is called revolt, their discipline Pharisaism, theirindependence[41.] arbitrariness, and their masterfulness arrogance.[42.] For the tyrannical despiser of humanity, popularity is a sign of the greatest love for humanity. He hides his secret profound distrust of all people behind the stolen words of true community. While he declares himself before the masses to be one of them, he praises himself with repulsive vanity and despises the rights of every individual. He considers the people stupid, and they become stupid;[43.] he considers them weak, and they become weak; he considers them criminal, and they become criminal.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Leaders who claim moral superiority often manipulate crowds, disguising contempt as concern.
In simple terms: Power can hide as caring.
Key Takeaway
Beware of false moral authority.
Themes
politics
ethics
leadership
Mood
critical
cautious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political movements
- organizational culture
- media narratives
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
psychology of crowds
hypocrisy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we discern genuine concern from manipulation?
- What safeguards protect individual rights?
A Different Perspective
May generalize all leaders.