It is difficult to find a reputable American historian who…
“It is difficult to find a reputable American historian who will acknowledge the crude fact that a Franklin Roosevelt, say, wanted to be President merely to wield power, to be famed and to be feared. To learn this simple fact one must wade through a sea of evasions: history as sociology, leaders as teachers, bland benevolence as a motive force, when, finally, power is an end to itself, and the instinctive urge to prevail the most important single human trait, the necessary force without which no city was built, no city destroyed.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author argues that many historians avoid acknowledging that power is often an end in itself, exemplified by Roosevelt's ambition for fame and fear.
In simple terms: Historians may hide power motives.
Key Takeaway
Question power motives in history.
Themes
politics
history
power
ambition
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- academic research
- political analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Political theory
historical methodology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence reveals true motives?
- How does power influence leadership decisions?
A Different Perspective
Attributing motives can be speculative.