What is any political campaign save a concerted effort to…
“What is any political campaign save a concerted effort to turn out a set of politicians who are admittedly bad and put in a set who are thought to be better. The former assumption, I believe is always sound; the latter is just as certainly false. For if experience teaches us anything at all it teaches us this: that a good politician, under democracy, is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Political campaigns aim to replace bad politicians with better ones, but both assumptions are flawed; good politicians are as rare as honest burglars.
In simple terms: Political change is often illusory; good leaders are rare.
Key Takeaway
Maintain realistic expectations of politics.
Themes
politics
idealism
disillusionment
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
commentary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- voting
- activism
- policy advocacy
- government reform
Key Concepts
political science
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a politician truly good?
- How can citizens improve political outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may lead to cynicism.