Bad Quote by Michael Scheuer
“Without the connotation good or bad, bin Laden's a great man in the sense that he's influenced the course of history.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Michael Scheuer on terrorism, 2010
A figure can be historically significant regardless of moral judgment.
In simple terms: Impact matters more than morality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize influence beyond good or bad.
Themes
history
influence
morality
leadership
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- educational curricula
- media commentary
Key Concepts
realpolitik
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- Should influence be judged separately from ethics?
- How do we teach controversial figures?
A Different Perspective
Assessing impact without endorsing actions can be problematic.
![“He [Osama bin Laden] is clearly an odd combination of a 12th-century theologian and a 21st-century CEO. He runs an absolutely unique organization in the Islamic world. It's multiethnic, multilinguistic, multinational. He is a combat veteran, three times wounded. He has a huge reputation in the…” quote by Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c70/michael-scheuer-7471_21st-century_he-osama-bin-laden-is-clearly-an-odd-com_1817985.jpg)
![“If Martin [Luther King, Jr.]'s philosophy had been embraced and lived out in Iraq and other places, we wouldn't have bin Ladens.” quote by Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a9f/coretta-scott-king-3912_bin-laden_if-martin-luther-king-jr-s-philosophy-ha_1042163.jpg)
