That is why any general, however wrong he may be--take…
““That is why any general, however wrong he may be--take Napoleon, to avoid the politics of mere contemporary examples--must believe in himself to be successful, or dupe himself into such a belief. Indeed, that is the main job of all politicians who, through their own inefficiency, muddle nations into war. If they do not fool themselves into the assumption that they are God-fearing idealists, they will never get the millions who must pay for their damage to believe the same thing, and they will lose the war.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Leaders must convince themselves of their own virtue to manipulate masses, often leading to war and suffering.
In simple terms: Self‑deception fuels political power and conflict.
Key Takeaway
Question your motives before influencing others.
Themes
politics
leadership
self‑deception
war
ethics
Mood
cynical
critical
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- campaign speeches
- legislative debates
- public rallies
- media interviews
Key Concepts
Machiavellianism
propaganda
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Can true humility replace self‑belief in leadership?
- What safeguards prevent mass manipulation?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all politicians are uniformly corrupt, ignoring altruistic leaders.