In every community there are little knots of fantastic…
“In every community there are little knots of fantastic extremists who loudly proclaim that they are striving for righteousness, and who, in reality, do their feeble best for unrighteousness. Just as the upright politician should hold in peculiar scorn the man who makes the name of politician a reproach and a shame, so the genuine reformer should realize that the cause he champions is especially jeopardized by the mock reformer who does what he can to make reform a laughingstock among decent men.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Extremist voices can corrupt true reform; genuine reformers must guard against mockers.
In simple terms: Beware false reformers.
Key Takeaway
Discern authentic causes from pretenders.
Themes
integrity
reform
extremism
politics
Mood
cautious
determined
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political activism
- community organizing
- policy making
Key Concepts
ethics
leadership
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify true reformers?
- What safeguards protect a cause?
A Different Perspective
Extremism can also arise from sincere but misguided intentions.