--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only a great fool would call the new…" description: "\"“Only a great fool would call the new political science diabolic: it has no attributes peculiar to fallen angels. It is not even Machiavellian, for Mac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/leo-strauss-12446_fallen-angels_only-a-great-fool-would-call-the-new-pol_317460.jpg" --- # Only a great fool would call the new political science… ![“Only a great fool would call the new political science diabolic: it has no attributes peculiar to fallen angels. It is not even Machiavellian, for Machiavelli's teaching was graceful, subtle, and colorful. Nor is it Neronian. Nevertheless one may say of it that it fiddles while Rome burns. It is…” quote by Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/leo-strauss-12446_fallen-angels_only-a-great-fool-would-call-the-new-pol_317460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/leo-strauss-12446_fallen-angels_only-a-great-fool-would-call-the-new-pol_317460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/leo-strauss-12446_fallen-angels_only-a-great-fool-would-call-the-new-pol_317460.jpg) > ““Only a great fool would call the new political science diabolic: it has no attributes peculiar to fallen angels. It is not even Machiavellian, for Machiavelli's teaching was graceful, subtle, and colorful. Nor is it Neronian. Nevertheless one may say of it that it fiddles while Rome burns. It is excused by two facts: it does not know that it fiddles, and it does not know that Rome burns.”” [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The new political science lacks moral depth, acting blindly while crises unfold, unaware of its own role. **In simple terms:** It ignores moral responsibility during crises. Key Takeaway Recognize ethical implications of political actions. Themes ethics political theory crisis management Mood critical reflective Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - policy making - academic curricula - public discourse - leadership training Key Concepts moral blindness political apathy Questions to Reflect On - What moral duties do scholars have in turbulent times? - How can political science stay grounded in reality? A Different Perspective Critics may argue it oversimplifies complex political dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fallen angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen-angel/) [Fallen angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen-angels/) [Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavelli/) [Machiavellian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavellian/) [Political science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-science/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/machiavelli-s-teaching-would-hardly-have-stood-the-test-of/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [I've been fascinated by Machiavelli since I was very young. 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It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/liberal-education-which-consists-in-the-constant-intercourse-with-the/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) > [Education to perfect gentlemanship, to human excellence, liberal education consists in reminding oneself of human excellence, of human greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/education-to-perfect-gentlemanship-to-human-excellence-liberal/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) > [The contemporary rejection of natural right leads to nihilism — nay, it is identical with nihilism,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/the-contemporary-rejection-of-natural-right-leads-to-nihilism-nay-it/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) > [When speaking of a "body of knowledge" or of "the results of research," e.g., we tacitly assign the same cognitive status to inherited knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/when-speaking-of-a-body-of-knowledge-or-of-the-results-of-research-e/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) > [All political action aims at either preservation or change. When desiring to preserve, we wish to prevent a change for the worse; when desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/all-political-action-aims-at-either-preservation-or-change-when/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) [Explore all 55 Leo Strauss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) ## More Fallen angel quotes > [“Rose barely poured herself a cup of hot, mouth-watering chocolate, when she saw Grey and Archer walking across the lawn. 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For love of you, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-valiukas/i-did-become-the-one-thing-i-was-taught-to-fear-above-all-else-an/) [Joanne Valiukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-valiukas/) > [After a moment, Wrath turned to John. "This is Lassiter, the fallen angel. One of the last times he was here on earth, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/after-a-moment-wrath-turned-to-john-this-is-lassiter-the-fallen-angel/) [J.R. 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We are the fallen angels!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-veil-brides/we-scream-we-shout-we-are-the-fallen-angels/) [Black Veil Brides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-veil-brides/) > [So. You're a fallen angel." She folded her arms. "I'm not fallen," he said roughly. "Then what are you?" He shrugged. "Busted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/so-you-re-a-fallen-angel-she-folded-her-arms-i-m-not-fallen-he-said/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [When I look at 'Fallen Angels,' I realize it is not a film that is truly about Hong Kong. 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