Church Quote by Shirley Hazzard
“The United Nations emerged as a temple of official good intentions, a place where governments might - without abating their transgressions - go to church; a place made remote - by agreed untruth and procedural complexity, and by tedium itself - from the risk of intense public involvement.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Transit of Venus, 1960
The UN is portrayed as a well‑meaning institution that, due to bureaucracy and secrecy, becomes ineffective and distant from public scrutiny.
In simple terms: UN looks good but is hampered by red tape and secrecy.
Key Takeaway
Engage critically with institutions.
Themes
politics
bureaucracy
institutional critique
public accountability
Mood
skeptical
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- activism
- journalism
- civic education
Key Concepts
transparency
power dynamics
institutional inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens demand more transparency?
- What reforms could reduce procedural complexity?
A Different Perspective
Its moral authority is limited without genuine accountability.
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