--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before you can begin to think about…" description: "\"Before you can begin to think about politics at all, you have to abandon the notion that there is a war between good men and bad men.\" — Walter Lippmann" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_before-you-can-begin-to-think-about-poli_518313.jpg" --- # Before you can begin to think about politics at all, you… ![“Before you can begin to think about politics at all, you have to abandon the notion that there is a war between good men and bad men.” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_before-you-can-begin-to-think-about-poli_518313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_before-you-can-begin-to-think-about-poli_518313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_before-you-can-begin-to-think-about-poli_518313.jpg) > “Before you can begin to think about politics at all, you have to abandon the notion that there is a war between good men and bad men.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political analysis requires moving beyond simplistic moral binaries to understand complex societal dynamics. **In simple terms:** Politics isn’t just good vs. bad. Key Takeaway Seek nuanced perspectives. Themes politics ethics analysis Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - media criticism - educational curricula - community discussions Key Concepts Moral relativism public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify nuanced viewpoints? - What risks arise from binary thinking? A Different Perspective Oversimplification can ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-men/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [If active or concerned citizens forfeit politics, they thereby abandon their society to its most mediocre and venal public servants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/if-active-or-concerned-citizens-forfeit-politics-they-thereby-abandon/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [How does the past ambush us? How can we be accurate about what happened, how can we be true to it? And can war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-winter/how-does-the-past-ambush-us-how-can-we-be-accurate-about-what/) [Michael Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-winter/) > [Men and boys always want to go fight. They are always looking for a reason to go to war. 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The difference is simply that a bad man will be proud all his life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/good-men-and-bad-men-alike-are-capable-of-weakness-the-difference-is/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [Good men study to spiritualize their bodies; bad men to incarnate their souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/good-men-study-to-spiritualize-their-bodies-bad-men-to-incarnate/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [There are good men and bad men of all nationalities, creeds and colors; and if this world of ours is ever to become what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-are-good-men-and-bad-men-of-all-nationalities-creeds-and-colors/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“In this world, therefore, the dominion of good men is profitable, not so much for themselves as for human affairs. 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McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-final-test-of-a-leader-is-that-he-leaves-behind-him-in-other-men/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The simple opposition between the people and big business has disappeared because the people themselves have become so deeply involved in big business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-simple-opposition-between-the-people-and-big-business-has/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A free press is not a privilege but an organic necessity in a great society. ... 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A great power like the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/an-alliance-is-like-a-chain-it-is-not-made-stronger-by-adding-weak/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The chief element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous interests which converge upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-chief-element-in-the-art-of-statesmanship-under-modern-conditions/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [At the core of every moral code there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe, and a version of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/at-the-core-of-every-moral-code-there-is-a-picture-of-human-nature-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The tendency of the casual mind is to pick out or stumble upon a sample which supports or defies its prejudices, and then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-tendency-of-the-casual-mind-is-to-pick-out-or-stumble-upon-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is only one purpose to which a whole society can be directed by a deliberate plan. 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