A neoconservative is a liberal who's been mugged by reality. A neoliberal is a liberal who's been mugged by reality but has refused to press charges.
Irving KristolRead
No modern nation has ever constructed a foreign policy that was acceptable to its intellectuals
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that the foreign policies of modern nations often fail to appease their intellectuals.
Irving Kristol's quote reflects the ongoing tension between policy makers and intellectuals. It indicates that foreign policies, shaped by practical needs and political agendas, rarely align with the ideals and critiques of intellectuals, thus creating a divide between these two groups regarding national objectives and ethical considerations in foreign relations.
Themes
Foreign PolicyIntellectualsPoliticsNational InterestsTension
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate about international relations, one might use this quote to illustrate the disconnect between policymakers and academic opinions.
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I have observed over the years that the unanticipated consequences of social action are always more important, and usually less agreeable, than the intended consequences.
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There are different kinds of truths for different kinds of people. There are truths appropriate for children; truths that are appropriate for students; truths that are appropriate for educated adults; and truths that are appropriate for highly educated adults, and the notion that there should be one set of truths available to everyone is a modern democratic fallacy. It doesn't work.
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You have to know one big thing and stick with it. The leaders who had one very big idea and one very big commitment. This permitted them to create something. Those are the ones who leave a legacy.
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