Baptists Quote by Harry S. Truman
“The Jews, I find, are very, very selfish. They care not how many Estonians, Latvians, Finns, Poles, Yugoslavs or Greeks get murdered or mistreated as Displaced Persons as long as the Jews get special treatment. Yet when they have power, physical, financial or political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or mistreatment to the under dog. Put an underdog on top and it makes no difference whether his name is Russian, Jewish, Negro, Management, Labor, Mormon, Baptist he goes haywire. I've found very, very few who remember their past condition when prosperity comes.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Private remarks, 1948
The speaker criticizes perceived Jewish selfishness, suggesting that when marginalized groups gain power they become oppressive, ignoring past suffering.
In simple terms: Power can corrupt any group, regardless of history.
Key Takeaway
Beware of power’s corrupting influence.
Themes
politics
ethics
group dynamics
historical memory
prejudice
Mood
critical
reflective
concerned
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- social movements
- historical analysis
- policy making
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
collectivism
identity politics
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards prevent power from corrupting any group?
- How can societies remember past injustices while fostering equity?
A Different Perspective
The statement is a sweeping generalization that fuels anti-Semitic stereotypes.
