Nature smiles at the union of freedom and equality in our utopias. For freedom and equality are sworn and everlasting enemies, and when one prevails the other dies.
Will DurantRead
The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A cohesive minority can exert power over a fragmented majority.
Will Durant's quote emphasizes the power dynamics in politics, suggesting that a smaller, united group can overpower a larger, but divided group. This highlights the importance of unity among those in the majority if they hope to challenge the influence of a united minority, often seen in political contexts where organized factions can manipulate or control the narrative and outcomes due to their cohesive strategies.
Themes
PoliticsUnityMajorityMinorityInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate, one might use this quote to illustrate the importance of unity in political action.
More from Will Durant
All quotes βThe greatest question of our time is not communism vs. individualism, not Europe vs. America, not even the East vs. the West; it is whether men can bear to live without God.
Will DurantRead
If we have never been amazed by the very fact that we exist, we are squandering the greatest fact of all.
Will DurantRead
Philosophy is harmonized knowledge making a harmonious life; it is the self-discipline which lifts us to serenity and freedom. Knowledge is power, but only wisdom is liberty.
Will DurantRead
If you wish to be loved, be modest; if you wish to be admired, be proud; if you wish both, combine external modesty with internal pride.
Will DurantRead
When liberty destroys order the hunger for order will destroy liberty.
Will DurantRead
Similar quotes
We can't get to the $4 trillion in savings that we need by just cutting the 12 percent of the budget that pays for things like medical research and education funding and food inspectors and the weather service. And we can't just do it by making seniors pay more for Medicare.
Barack ObamaRead
Well, we see an increasingly weaker labor movement as a result of the overall assault on the labor movement and as a result of the globalization of capital.
Angela DavisRead
We must judge a government by its general tendencies and not by its happy accidents.
Thomas B. MacaulayRead
Throughout history, when societies face tough economic times, we have seen democratic reforms deferred, decreased trust in government, persecution of minority groups, and a general shrinking of the democratic space.
Samantha PowerRead
With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion. With Barack Obama we will close the book on the old politics of race against race.
Edward KennedyRead
The established politicians, who before the war preached national pride and Christian love, were the first to collaborate with the Germans. But the communists, who as children we'd been taught to fear, kept a resistance movement alive, living and dying true to their ideals.
Mikis TheodorakisRead