Politics Quote by Roger Scruton
““There is a particular view, still popular among left-wing intellectuals in the West, that the Soviet system was “socialism gone wrong.” This thought expresses precisely the major political danger of our times, which is the belief that politics involves a choice of systems, as a means to an end, so that one system may “go wrong” while another “goes right.” The truth is that socialism is wrong, precisely because it believes that it can go right—precisely because it sees politics asa means to an end. Politics is a manner of social existence, whose bedrock is the given obligations from which our social identities are formed. Politics is a form of association which is not a means to an end, but an end in itself. It is founded on legitimacy, and legitimacy resides in our sense that we are made by our inheritance.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Right and the Left” by Roger Scruton, 1995
The quote argues that viewing socialism as a system that can be corrected is flawed; politics should be an end in itself, grounded in legitimacy and social identity, not a means to achieve an ideal.
In simple terms: Politics is an end, not a tool; socialism is inherently flawed.
Key Takeaway
Treat politics as a communal practice, not a system to be fixed.
Themes
politics
philosophy
ideology
legitimacy
social identity
Mood
thoughtful
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- public debate
- policy making
- civic education
- community building
Key Concepts
social contract
political theory
critical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance political ideals with practical governance?
- What role does legitimacy play in modern societies?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex political realities and ignore practical governance challenges.
