--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He 's ruthless only because of his…" description: "\"He 's ruthless only because of his ideals. Unfortunately he doesn't succeed. The thing fails and gets out of hand and takes charge of him. Idealism is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/terence-fisher-41700_because_he-s-ruthless-only-because-of-his-ideals_1284380.jpg" --- # He 's ruthless only because of his ideals. Unfortunately… ![“He 's ruthless only because of his ideals. Unfortunately he doesn't succeed. The thing fails and gets out of hand and takes charge of him. Idealism is the only excuse he could have and it's a great excuse.” quote by Terence Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/terence-fisher-41700_because_he-s-ruthless-only-because-of-his-ideals_1284380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/terence-fisher-41700_because_he-s-ruthless-only-because-of-his-ideals_1284380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/terence-fisher-41700_because_he-s-ruthless-only-because-of-his-ideals_1284380.jpg) > “He 's ruthless only because of his ideals. Unfortunately he doesn't succeed. The thing fails and gets out of hand and takes charge of him. Idealism is the only excuse he could have and it's a great excuse.” [Terence Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-fisher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idealism can make one ruthless, yet it often leads to failure and loss of control. **In simple terms:** Idealism can be destructive. Key Takeaway Balance ideals with realistic strategies. Themes idealism failure control Mood cautionary thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - political movements - business ventures - personal goals Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can you pursue ideals without self-destruction? - What safeguards prevent idealism from becoming harmful? A Different Perspective Idealism can inspire positive change when tempered. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Charge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charge/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Fails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fails/) [Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Idealism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism/) [Idealism Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism-excuse-4161132/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Ideals Unfortunately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals-unfortunately-4161133/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Ruthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthless/) [Ruthless Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthless-ideals-4161131/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Unfortunately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunately/) ## Related quotes > [“Love only fails when we fail to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-edwards/love-only-fails-when-we-fail-to-love/) [Tyler Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-edwards/) > [Our nation suffers when Congress fails to pay America's bills on time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/our-nation-suffers-when-congress-fails-to-pay-america-s-bills-on-time/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“Greed, in the end, fails even the greedy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/greed-in-the-end-fails-even-the-greedy/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [We're very good at telling what happens and showing people while it happens... 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O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [I mean it shouldn't hang you up emotionally if your record fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/i-mean-it-shouldn-t-hang-you-up-emotionally-if-your-record-fails/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) ## More by Terence Fisher > [Certainly Dracula did bring a hell of a lot of joy to a hell of a lot of women. And if this erotic quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-fisher/certainly-dracula-did-bring-a-hell-of-a-lot-of-joy-to-a-hell-of-a-lot/) [Terence Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-fisher/) > [There is the danger of over preparation, of loss of spontaneity; over rehearsal is the most terrible thing you can imagine. We do have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-fisher/there-is-the-danger-of-over-preparation-of-loss-of-spontaneity-over/) [Terence Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-fisher/) > [We're not as materialistic and income-tax conscious as we think. At the moment our superstitions are tucked away, but come out sometimes in strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-fisher/we-re-not-as-materialistic-and-income-tax-conscious-as-we-think-at/) [Terence Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-fisher/) > [Dracula did bring a hell of a lot of joy to a hell of a lot of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-fisher/dracula-did-bring-a-hell-of-a-lot-of-joy-to-a-hell-of-a-lot-of-women/) [Terence Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-fisher/) > [The process is very gradual, you see. 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