Firsts Quote by E. P. Thompson
“The missiles come first, and the justifications come second.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Making of the English Working Class, 1963
It suggests that force precedes justification, highlighting how power often dictates narratives.
In simple terms: Power often comes before its justification.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and seek truth.
Themes
politics
ethics
power dynamics
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media analysis
- historical events
- legal decisions
Key Concepts
justification
causality
authority
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies accept justifications after actions?
- How can we demand accountability earlier?
A Different Perspective
Justifications can be manipulated after the fact.
![“These missiles [Cruise and Pershing II] represent a new generation of missiles whose deployment will help give NATO first-strike capability. With this first-strike strategy, the West believes it could attack Russian military installations with such effectiveness that serious retaliation would be…” quote by Petra Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/66d/petra-kelly-22512_believe_these-missiles-cruise-and-pershing-ii-re_2825364.jpg)
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
