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The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth Galbraith
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques modern conservatives for justifying self-interested actions under the guise of moral reasoning.

John Kenneth Galbraith suggests that modern conservatives are participating in a traditional philosophical endeavor: seeking a moral rationale that makes self-serving behavior appear morally acceptable. This reflects a broader critique of how individuals and ideologies often cloak selfish motives in ethical language, challenging the integrity of moral philosophy itself.

Themes

Moral PhilosophySelfishnessConservatismJustificationEthics

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about economic policies, one might use this quote to illustrate how ideological beliefs can mask self-interest.

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One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
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Were it part of our everyday education and comment that the corporation is an instrument for the exercise of power, that it belongs to the process by which we are governed, there would then be debate on how that power is used and how it might be made subordinate to the public will and need. This debate is avoided by propagating the myth that the power does not exist.
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