Football strategy does not originate in a scrimmage: it is useless to expect solutions in a political campaign.
Walter LippmannRead
When philosophers try to be politicians they generally cease to be philosophers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Philosophers lose their critical thinking when they engage in politics.
This quote by Walter Lippmann suggests that the pursuit of power and political influence often conflicts with the unbiased and analytical mindset of a philosopher. When philosophers enter the political arena, their objective reasoning may be compromised by the complexities and ethical dilemmas inherent in politics, leading them to abandon their philosophical principles for the sake of political gain or expediency.
Themes
PhilosophyPoliticsThinkersEthicsTruth
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about the separation of ethics and politics, one could use this quote to highlight the challenges faced by intellectuals in political roles.
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The private citizen, beset by partisan appeals for the loan of his Public Opinion, will soon see, perhaps, that these appeals are not a compliment to his intelligence, but an imposition on his good nature and an insult to his sense of evidence.
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