Character Quote by Paul Johnson
““In particular, I want to focus on the moral and judgmental credentials of intellectuals to tell mankind how to conduct itself. How did they run their own lives? With what degree of rectitude did they behave to family, friends and associates? Were they just in their sexual and financial dealings? Did they tell, and write, the truth? And how have their own systems stood up to the test of time and praxis?””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Quest for History, Paul Johnson, 1995
Johnson questions the moral integrity of intellectuals, demanding they live by the standards they prescribe.
In simple terms: Intellectuals should practice what they preach.
Key Takeaway
Examine your own consistency.
Themes
ethics
intellectual responsibility
hypocrisy
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic leadership
- political commentary
- media criticism
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you hold yourself to the standards you set for others?
- How can society verify the integrity of its thinkers?
A Different Perspective
Intellectuals may be judged by biased standards.
![“The Salem [witch] trials…can be seen as an example of the propensity of the American people to be convulsed by spasms of self-righteous rage against enemies, real or imaginary, of their society and way of living. Hence the parallels later drawn between Salem in 1692 and the “Red Scare” of 1919-20…” quote by Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/67d/paul-johnson-4585_american-people_the-salem-witch-trials-can-be-seen-as-an_82157.jpg)
![“He [Augustine] admitted: 'I am the sort of man who writes because he has made progress, and who makes progress by writing.'” quote by Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/24c/paul-johnson-4585_writer_he-augustine-admitted-i-am-the-sort-of-m_146973.jpg)
