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One has to be a lowbrow, a bit of a murderer, to be a politician, ready and willing to see people sacrificed, slaughtered, for the sake of an idea, whether a good one or a bad one.
Henry Miller
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that politicians often sacrifice others for their ideals, regardless of the morality of those ideals.

Henry Miller's quote reflects the harsh reality of political life, indicating that to achieve political goals, one must often make morally questionable decisions that can lead to devastating consequences for others. This perspective emphasizes the darker side of politics, where the pursuit of ideas can lead to the sacrifice of individuals, illustrating the moral ambiguity that can be inherent in governmental leadership and ambition.

Themes

PoliticsSacrificeMoralityPowerLeadership

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a political debate to highlight the moral dilemmas faced by leaders.

More from Henry Miller

Jump off. You are a protected individual. Do not fear.
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I saw through to the last sign and symbol, but I could not read her face. I could see only the eyes shining through, huge, fleshy-like luminous beasts, as though I were swimming behind them in the electric effluvia of her incandescent vision.
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The essential thing is to WANT to sing. This then is a song. I am singing.
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Great God! What have I turned into? What right have you people to clutter up my life, steal my time, probe my soul, suckle my thoughts, have me for your companion, confidant, and information bureau? What do you take me for? Am I an entertainer on salary, required every evening to play an intellectual farce under your stupid noses? Am I a slave, bought and paid for, to crawl on my belly in front of you idlers and lay at your feet all that I do and all that I know?
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We are swimming on the face of time and all else has drowned, is drowning, or will drown.
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To sing you must first open your mouth. You must have a pair of lungs, and a little knowledge of music. It is not necessary to have an accordion, or a guitar. The essential thing is to want to sing. This then is a song. I am singing.
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