Community Quote by William Hazlitt
“The great have private feelings of their own, to which the interests of humanity and justice must curtsy. Their interests are so far from being the same as those of the community, that they are in direct and necessary opposition to them; their power is at the expense of OUR weakness; their riches of OUR poverty; their pride of OUR degradation; their splendour of OUR wretchedness; their tyranny of OUR servitude.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Social Critique by William Hazlitt, 1825
The elite’s personal interests clash with humanity’s, using power to exploit the weak, enriching themselves while oppressing the masses.
In simple terms: Elite power harms the many for the few.
Key Takeaway
Challenge structures that enable elite exploitation.
Themes
power
inequality
human rights
social justice
exploitation
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy advocacy
- education
- community building
- public discourse
Key Concepts
class struggle
ethical responsibility
collective welfare
Questions to Reflect On
- What can individuals do to resist elite oppression?
- How can societies restructure power to be more equitable?
A Different Perspective
Changing elite behavior requires collective action and systemic reform.
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