--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Political scientist Herfried Münkler is…" description: "\"Political scientist Herfried Münkler is right: If you only take normative positions, if your focus is solely on values, you won't find success in a wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sigmar-gabriel-14684_focus_political-scientist-herfried-m-nkler-is_447442.jpg" --- # Political scientist Herfried Münkler is right: If you only… ![“Political scientist Herfried Münkler is right: If you only take normative positions, if your focus is solely on values, you won't find success in a world where others are relentlessly pursuing their interests. In a world full of meat-eaters, vegetarians have a tough time.” quote by Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sigmar-gabriel-14684_focus_political-scientist-herfried-m-nkler-is_447442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sigmar-gabriel-14684_focus_political-scientist-herfried-m-nkler-is_447442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sigmar-gabriel-14684_focus_political-scientist-herfried-m-nkler-is_447442.jpg) > “Political scientist Herfried Münkler is right: If you only take normative positions, if your focus is solely on values, you won't find success in a world where others are relentlessly pursuing their interests. In a world full of meat-eaters, vegetarians have a tough time.” [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that focusing only on normative values limits effectiveness; pragmatic engagement with competing interests is essential. **In simple terms:** Pure idealism hinders real-world success. Key Takeaway Balance values with pragmatic action. Themes political realism strategic pragmatism normative theory interest-driven politics Mood thoughtful analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - diplomacy - business negotiations - conflict resolution - public policy Key Concepts power dynamics ethical compromise policy implementation Questions to Reflect On - When should values be compromised? - How to maintain integrity while being pragmatic? A Different Perspective Idealism alone may ignore moral costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Tough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-time/) [Tough times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-times/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Vegetarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarian/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [All values must be won by contest, and after they have been won, they must be defended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/all-values-must-be-won-by-contest-and-after-they-have-been-won-they/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There is nothing more personal than your values. 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Next it will be between the US and the Asia-Pacific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/maybe-it-is-the-last-chance-for-europe-to-influence-standards-for/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [Taming the financial markets and winning back democratic control over them is the central condition for creating a new social balance in Germany and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/taming-the-financial-markets-and-winning-back-democratic-control-over/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [In the past, Germany could rely on the French, the British and, especially, the Americans, to assert our interests in the world. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/in-the-past-germany-could-rely-on-the-french-the-british-and/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [The task for Germany today is - through its own policies and its own structural reforms, its own investments - to support the EU…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/the-task-for-germany-today-is-through-its-own-policies-and-its-own/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [Madame Merkel knows very well that her conservative Christian Democratic Union or CDU, and the CSU, the Bavarian sister party to the CDU, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/madame-merkel-knows-very-well-that-her-conservative-christian/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [I hope that a German foreign policy in 2028 will be part of a European foreign policy, because even the strong country of Germany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/i-hope-that-a-german-foreign-policy-in-2028-will-be-part-of-a/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [The truth is that we have long had a multi-track Europe with very different objectives. The traditional differences between the north and the south…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/the-truth-is-that-we-have-long-had-a-multi-track-europe-with-very/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [If we want to implement climate protection worldwide, countries like Germany, which are capable of developing new technologies, will have to hand over some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/if-we-want-to-implement-climate-protection-worldwide-countries-like/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [I'm hearing different things, but there is concern that stable Germany is no longer quite so stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/i-m-hearing-different-things-but-there-is-concern-that-stable-germany/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [Finding the right form of debate regarding Israeli policies will remain a challenge in Germany. Even with every conceivable and warranted criticism, the danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/finding-the-right-form-of-debate-regarding-israeli-policies-will/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [The production of natural resources in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, stable natural hydrological cycles, fertile soils, a balanced climate and numerous other vital ecosystem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/the-production-of-natural-resources-in-agriculture-forestry-and/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [We, the Social Democrats, are convinced that capitalism needs to be tamed a second time. The first time we achieved that in Germany for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/we-the-social-democrats-are-convinced-that-capitalism-needs-to-be/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [It isn't easy for everyone in Germany to make ends meet through well-paid work in Germany. You have to have sufficient skills and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/it-isn-t-easy-for-everyone-in-germany-to-make-ends-meet-through-well/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [It is clear that Germany needs a foreign policy in which we jointly define European interests. Thus far, we have often defined European values,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/it-is-clear-that-germany-needs-a-foreign-policy-in-which-we-jointly/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) > [Without sound conservation and management measures, fisheries will quickly become depleted and a basic component of global food security will be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmar-gabriel/without-sound-conservation-and-management-measures-fisheries-will/) [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) [Explore all 45 Sigmar Gabriel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) ## More Focus quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. 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Everything else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/all-i-m-focused-on-is-playing-my-game-everything-else-will-take-care/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) [Browse all 11,734 Focus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Political scientist Herfried Münkler is right: If you only take normative positions, if your focus is solely on values, you won't find success in a world where others are relentlessly pursuing their interests. 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