Party tactics?” “People like your wife are dangerous.”…
““Party tactics?” “People like your wife are dangerous.” “Why?” Hamilton asked. “They don’t belong to any group. They fool around with everything. As soon as we turn our back—” “So you destroy them. You turn them over to the lunatic patriots.” “The lunatic patriots,” McFeyffe said, “we can understand. But not your wife. She signs Party peace petitions and she reads the Chicago Tribune. People like her—they’re more of a menace to Party discipline than any other bunch. The cult of individualism. The idealist with his own law, his own ethics. Refusing to accept authority. It undermines society. It topples the whole structure. Nothing lasting can be built on it. People like your wife just won’t take orders.” “McFeyffe,””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques individualism as a threat to collective order, portraying it as dangerous to societal stability.
In simple terms: Individualism can destabilize society.
Key Takeaway
Balance personal freedom with social responsibility.
Themes
individualism
authority
social order
Mood
critical
tense
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political movements
- community building
- family dynamics
Key Concepts
political theory
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When does conformity become oppression?
- How can societies protect both order and individuality?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on conformity can suppress creativity and rights.