Politics Quote by Howard Fast
““Politics, as he occasionally said, required three unchanging talents and no virtues. More politicians, he claimed, had been destroyed by virtue than by any other cause; and the talents he enumerated in this fashion. The first talent was the ability to choose the winning side. Failing that, the second talent was the ability to extricate oneself from the losing side. And the third talent was never to make an enemy.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Last Frontier by Howard Fast, 1964
Politics demands pragmatic adaptability over moral virtue; survival hinges on aligning with winners, escaping defeat, and avoiding enemies.
In simple terms: Politics needs practicality, not virtue.
Key Takeaway
Adapt, avoid enemies, stay flexible.
Themes
politics
pragmatism
survival
power dynamics
Mood
cautious
analytical
critical
Type
advice
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- campaign strategy
- corporate negotiations
- international diplomacy
- conflict resolution
- career advancement
Key Concepts
realpolitik
self-preservation
strategic alignment
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it possible to lead ethically while being pragmatic?
- How do you balance personal integrity with political survival?
A Different Perspective
Such tactics can erode ethical standards and public trust.
![“Geronimo [is]...an example of our practice of destroying those who oppose us and then honoring them.” quote by Howard Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b2c/howard-fast-20492_enemy_geronimo-is-an-example-of-our-practice-o_118431.jpg)
![“I am a man of peace [so he told Mother, but it always appeared to me that he was the most belligerent man of peace I had ever encountered]” quote by Howard Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe4/howard-fast-20492_men_i-am-a-man-of-peace-so-he-told-mother-bu_709008.jpg)
