Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence.
George OrwellRead
He that goeth about to persuade a multitude that they are not so well governed as they ought to be shall never want attentive and favorable hearers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that people are naturally inclined to listen to those who criticize their governance.
Richard Hooker's quote points to the idea that when someone attempts to convince a group that they are governed poorly, they will always find an audience willing to listen. This reflects human nature's tendency to be critical of authority and governance, where individuals often focus on perceived shortcomings rather than recognizing effective leadership.
Themes
GovernancePersuasionCriticismAudienceAuthority
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate, one might quote this to highlight the susceptibility of the public to critiques of government.
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