Chaos Quote by René Girard
““The revolutionaries thought they would be destroying vanity when they destroyed the privileges of the noble. But vanity is like a virulent cancer that spreads in a more serious form throughout the body just when one things it has been removed. Who is there left to imitate after the tyrant has been removed. Henceforth men shall copy each other; idolatry of one person is replaced by hatred of a hundred thousand rivals. In Balzac's opinion, too, there is no other god but envy for the modern crowd whose greed is no longer stemmed and held within acceptable limits by the monarch. Men will become gods for each other.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Mimetic Theory of Desire, 1970s (paraphrased)
When a tyrant is removed, vanity shifts from elite imitation to widespread envy, leading to new forms of rivalry and idolatry.
In simple terms: Power loss creates collective envy and rivalry.
Key Takeaway
Beware of new idols after power changes.
Themes
power
envy
society
imitation
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political transitions
- cultural analysis
- organizational change
- media criticism
Key Concepts
mimetic desire
social dynamics
idolatry
Questions to Reflect On
- What new idols emerge after a regime change?
- How does envy shape collective behavior?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex social motivations; not all societies follow this pattern.
