Gods Quote by Greg Iles
““Did the fact that Martin Luther King diddled all those women change what he did for his people? Or Franklin Roosevelt? General Eisenhower? Not one whit. Men are men, and gods are for storybooks. And if you’ve read your Edith Hamilton or Jane Harrison—or the Old Testament, for that matter—you’ll know that gods acted like men most of the time, or worse.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that personal moral failings of leaders do not diminish their political achievements, and that mythic narratives often portray gods with human flaws.
In simple terms: Leaders' flaws don't erase their deeds; myths show gods as flawed.
Key Takeaway
Separate actions from personal morality.
Themes
leadership
morality
myth
history
gender
Mood
critical
reflective
skeptical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- historical biography
- gender studies
- literary criticism
- public discourse
Key Concepts
political theory
ethical relativism
mythology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do personal flaws of leaders affect your view of their achievements?
- How do mythic stories shape our expectations of leaders?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks how personal ethics can affect public trust and policy legitimacy.
