Arrogant Quote by Salman Rushdie
““O my vanity I am an arrogant man, is this weakness, is it just a dream of power? Must I betray myself for a seat on the council? Is this sensible and wise or is it hollow and self-loving? I don’t even know if the Grandee is sincere. Does he know? Perhaps not even he. I am weak and he’s strong, the offer gives him many ways of ruining me. But I, too, have much to gain. The souls of the city, of the world, surely they are worth three angels? Is Allah so unbending that he will not embrace three more to save the human race?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Golden House, 2017
A ruler wrestles with pride, loyalty, and the cost of power, questioning whether personal ambition justifies betrayal for the greater good.
In simple terms: Power and pride clash with duty and doubt.
Key Takeaway
Weigh ambition against moral responsibility.
Themes
ambition
loyalty
power
faith
politics
Mood
conflicted
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- Leadership decisions
- religious counsel
- personal sacrifice
- political negotiation
Key Concepts
Moral dilemma
hubris
political intrigue
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the limits of personal ambition for the greater good?
- How does faith influence political choices?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes power can be used for good, ignoring potential corruption.
![“[T]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom, just waiting for us to pick the whole thing up and heave it away. It has to happen. Free people can put up with such laws only for so long.” quote by Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aed/dick-armey-16265_america_t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-af_12886.jpg)
