Your corn is ripe today; mine will be so tomorrow. 'Tis profitable for us both, that I should labour with you today, and that you should aid me tomorrow.
David HumeRead
The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Popularity and patriotism can lead to the rise of oppressive power.
David Hume warns that the pursuit of popularity and the fervent display of patriotism often serve as pathways that can lead to the establishment of authoritarian power structures. This suggests that when individuals prioritize popularity and national pride over critical thinking and justice, they may inadvertently support tyranny and oppression disguised as patriotism.
Themes
PopularityPatriotismPowerTyrannyPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate to illustrate the dangers of blind nationalism.
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