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I have never regarded politics as the arena of morals. It is the arena of interest.
Aneurin Bevan
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that politics is primarily driven by self-interest rather than moral considerations.

Aneurin Bevan emphasizes that politics is not a domain governed by ethical principles but rather a battleground where individuals and groups pursue their own interests. This perspective implies that moral ideals often take a backseat to the pragmatic realities of power, influence, and competition in political dealings.

Themes

PoliticsInterestMoralityPowerSelf-Interest

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about political ethics, you might quote this to illustrate a pragmatic view of political actions.

More from Aneurin Bevan

I know that the right kind of leader for the Labour Party is a desiccated calculating machine who must not in any way permit himself to be swayed by indignation. If he sees suffering, privation or injustice he must not allow it to move him, for that would be evidence of the lack of proper education or of absence of self-control. He must speak in calm and objective accents and talk about a dying child in the same way as he would about the pieces inside an internal combustion engine.
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It is an axiom, enforced by all the experience of the ages, that they who rule industrially will rule politically.
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How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics in the twentieth century.
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He brings to the fierce struggle of politics the tepid enthusiasm of a lazy summer afternoon at a cricket match.
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Stand not too near the rich man lest he destroy thee - and not too far away lest he forget thee.
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There can be no immaculate conception of socialism.
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