Community Quote by Robert Musil
“... we engage in politics because we don't know anything. This is clearly revealed in the way we go about it. Our parties exist from a fear of theory. The voter fears that one idea can always be contradicted by another. Therefore the parties reciprocally defend themselves against the few old ideas they have inherited. They don't live from what they promise, but from frustrating the promises of others. This is their silent community of interests.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Man Without Qualities, 1930
Politics is driven by fear of ideas and parties protect old doctrines rather than fulfill promises.
In simple terms: Politics fears new ideas.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind party loyalty.
Themes
politics
fear
ideology
institutional inertia
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy debates
- public discourse
Key Concepts
political theory
social psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do parties truly represent voters?
- How does fear shape political discourse?
A Different Perspective
Idealism often clashes with pragmatic self‑interest.
![“The social [media channel] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection, and community. That's what there's too little of in today's mediascape, despite all the hoopla surrounding social tools. The promise…” quote by Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c85/umair-haque-25881_beauty_the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-bea_1270.jpg)
