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An election is a moral horror, as bad as a battle except for the blood; a mud bath for every soul concerned in it.
George Bernard Shaw
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Shaw critiques the moral implications and degradation of character involved in the electoral process, likening it to a violent battle.

In this quote, George Bernard Shaw expresses his disdain for the electoral process, comparing it to the horrors of battle but without the physical bloodshed. He suggests that elections corrupt the moral integrity of individuals and transform the political arena into a grim environment where personal values are sullied, much like a mud bath that leaves everyone stained and tainted.

Themes

ElectionMoralityPhilosophyPoliticsDegradation

In practice

Example use cases

During a political debate, one could quote Shaw to emphasize the negative consequences of election campaigns.

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What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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