--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Also, the rules of this particular game…" description: "\"“Also, the rules of this particular game demanded that it was not enough to say: “So and so disagrees with us, who are the possessors of evident truth...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/doris-lessing-501_truth_also-the-rules-of-this-particular-game-d_2446826.png" --- # Also, the rules of this particular game demanded that it… ![“Also, the rules of this particular game demanded that it was not enough to say: “So and so disagrees with us, who are the possessors of evident truth.” It had to also be said: “So and so is evil, corrupt, sexually depraved,” and so on.” quote by Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/doris-lessing-501_truth_also-the-rules-of-this-particular-game-d_2446826.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/doris-lessing-501_truth_also-the-rules-of-this-particular-game-d_2446826.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/doris-lessing-501_truth_also-the-rules-of-this-particular-game-d_2446826.png) > ““Also, the rules of this particular game demanded that it was not enough to say: “So and so disagrees with us, who are the possessors of evident truth.” It had to also be said: “So and so is evil, corrupt, sexually depraved,” and so on.”” [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes how political or ideological conflicts often devolve into personal attacks, demanding moral condemnation beyond factual disagreement. **In simple terms:** Disagreements become personal attacks. Key Takeaway Avoid ad hominem attacks. Themes politics conflict ethics Mood frustrated critical Type cautionary analytical When to use this quote - debates - media coverage - social media arguments - political campaigns Key Concepts ad hominem polarization power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep criticism factual? - When does critique become character assassination? 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