...And there really are men who believe in this, who spend…
““...And there really are men who believe in this, who spend their time in promoting Leagues of Peace, in delivering addresses, and in writing books; and of course the governments sympathize with it all, pretending that they approve of it; just as they pretend to support temperance, while they actually derive the larger part of their income from intemperance; just as they pretend to maintain liberty of the constitution, when it is the absence of liberty to which they owe their power; just as they pretend to care for the improvement of the laboring classes, while on oppression of the workman rest the very foundations of the State; just as they pretend to uphold Christianity, when Christianity is subversive of every government.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Critiques hypocrisy of institutions that claim moral values while profiting from their opposite.
In simple terms: Institutions often pretend to support ideals they undermine.
Key Takeaway
Question their true motives.
Themes
hypocrisy
politics
power
religion
social critique
Mood
cynical
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- Political analysis
- activism
- public policy
- media literacy
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
political theory
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence reveals true institutional motives?
- How can individuals act against systemic hypocrisy?
A Different Perspective
Such critiques can be dismissed as cynicism, ignoring genuine reform efforts.