Police Quote by Joseph Conrad
““The encounter did not leave behind with Chief Inspector Heat that satisfactory sense of superiority the members of the police force get from the unofficial but intimate side of their intercourse with the criminal classes, by which the vanity of power is soothed, and the vulgar love of domination over our fellow creatures is flattered as worthily as it deserves.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: "The Secret Agent", 1907
The narrator describes how police derive a false sense of superiority from their secret, intimate interactions with criminals, which soothes their ego and fuels a desire for domination.
In simple terms: Police feel powerful through secret dealings with criminals, feeding ego and domination.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the moral danger of power’s vanity.
Themes
power
vanity
morality
authority
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- law enforcement
- political intrigue
- corruption
- social hierarchy
Key Concepts
psychology of authority
ethical decay
Questions to Reflect On
- Do secret powers corrupt the sense of duty?
- How can societies check the vanity of authority?
A Different Perspective
Such superiority can blind officials to justice and empathy.
