The idea that political freedom can be preserved in the absence of economic freedom, and vice versa, is an illusion. Political freedom is the corollary of economic freedom.
Ludwig Von MisesRead
They [intellectuals] coined most of the slogans that guided the butcheries of Bolshevism, Fascism, and Nazism. Intellectuals extolling the delights of murder, writers advocating censorship, philosophers judging the merits of thinkers and authors, not according to the value of their contributions but according to their achievements on battlefields, are the spiritual leaders of our age of perpetual strife.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Intellectuals have a profound influence on societal ideologies, often exacerbating conflict through their rhetoric and justification of violence.
Ludwig Von Mises critiques the role of intellectuals in shaping the ideologies of oppressive regimes such as Bolshevism, Fascism, and Nazism. He argues that these intellectuals have not only supported violent actions through their slogans but have also created a culture where moral and philosophical judgments are based more on martial success than on intellectual or ethical contributions, thus perpetuating a cycle of conflict and strife.
Themes
IntellectualsViolenceIdeologyPhilosophyConflict
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on the role of intellectuals in politics, this quote can highlight the dangerous influence of ideologues.
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Each epoch has found in the Gospels what it sought to find there, and has overlooked what it wished to overlook.
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