Many who think they are workers in politics are really merely tools.
If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome; if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent; if you believe the military, nothing is safe.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the skepticism towards various authorities and their perspectives on life.
Lord Salisbury's quote expresses a critical view of how different societal authorities—healthcare professionals, religious leaders, and military figures—often depict the world in a negative light. Each group seems to cast doubt on the wholesomeness, innocence, or safety of experiences and beliefs, suggesting that to fully embrace life, one must question or move beyond the limiting perspectives imposed by these authorities. This can be seen as a commentary on the nature of authority and the importance of personal belief in determining one's understanding of the world.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a debate about the influence of authority on public perception.
More from Lord Salisbury
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Each of us lives within the universe - the prison - of his own brain. Projecting from it are millions of fragile sensory nerve fibers, in groups uniquely adapted to sample the energetic states of the world around us: heat, light, force, and chemical composition. That is all we ever know of it directly; all else is logical inference.
The opposite of every truth is just as true.
I've given my life to the principle and the ideal of memory, and remembrance.
It may be shocking to some people in this country to realize that, without meaning to do so, they hold views in common with Hitler when they preach discrimination against other religious, racial or economic groups.
Planning ahead is a measure of class. The rich and even the middle class plan for future generations, but the poor can plan ahead only a few weeks or days.
I like to explore different ideas of race, how the concept of race has evolved in the country. It's one thing I enjoy talking about, but I don't feel compelled to talk about it.