Affair Quote by George Steiner
“To shoot a man because one disagrees with his interpretation of Darwin or Hegel is a sinister tribute to the supremacy of ideas in human affairs -- but a tribute nevertheless.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Supremacy of Ideas, 1995
Violence against dissenters is a twisted homage to intellectual dominance, yet still a form of tribute.
In simple terms: Violence is a twisted tribute to ideas.
Key Takeaway
Reject violent suppression of differing views.
Themes
philosophy
ethics
intellectualism
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- public protests
- media coverage
Key Concepts
idea supremacy
political violence
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we equate violence with reverence?
- What non‑violent ways honor ideas?
A Different Perspective
Violence undermines constructive discourse.
![“Yet mere membership as a matter of duty is not enough for Hegel, given the grandeur of the state’s divine historical purpose: “One must worship the state as a terrestrial divinity.”[211]” quote by Stephen R.C. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/371/stephen-r-c-hicks-12692_hegel_yet-mere-membership-as-a-matter-of-duty_229759.jpg)
