Character Quote by Paul Johnson
““Thus it is, when the moral restraints of religion and tradition, hierarchy and precedent, are removed, the power to suspend or unleash catastrophic events does not devolve on the impersonal benevolence of the masses but falls into the hands of men who are isolated by the very totality of their evil natures.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The New New Thing, Paul Johnson, 1999
When moral and social constraints disappear, catastrophic power shifts from collective goodwill to isolated evil individuals.
In simple terms: Without morals, power goes to evil people.
Key Takeaway
Beware concentration of unchecked power.
Themes
ethics
power
evil
society
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- corporate governance
- media influence
- technological control
Key Concepts
totalitarianism
psychology
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- Who holds power when norms collapse?
- How can societies prevent evil individuals from gaining control?
A Different Perspective
Even with constraints, power can be abused by those with malicious intent.
![“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)
