Animal Quote by Charles Bukowski
“Dog is much admired by Man because he believes in the hand which feeds him. A perfect set-up. For 13 cents a day you've got a hired killer who thinks you are god. A dog can't tell a Nazi from a Republican from a Commie from a Democrat and, many times, neither can I.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Post Office by Charles Bukowski, 1971
The quote highlights how loyalty can be blind, turning a dependent creature into a weapon for its benefactor, and reflects on the difficulty of distinguishing political ideologies.
In simple terms: Blind loyalty can turn a dependent into a weapon.
Key Takeaway
Question loyalty and seek critical thinking.
Themes
loyalty
power
politics
human nature
animal metaphor
Mood
cynical
reflective
critical
Type
political
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- political manipulation
- military recruitment
- propaganda
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Blind obedience
instrumentalization
political ambiguity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when loyalty is being used against you?
- Can blind obedience ever be justified?
A Different Perspective
Loyalty may be exploited by those in power.
![“There are historical analogs, which are not exact, of course, but are close enough to be worrisome. This is a whiff of early Nazi Germany. [Adolf] Hitler was appealing to groups with similar grievances, and giving them crazy answers, but at least they were answers; these groups weren't getting…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/081/noam-chomsky-42_analog_there-are-historical-analogs-which-are-n_19392.jpg)
