If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
If you begin by saying, 'Thou shalt not lie,' there is no longer any possibility of political action.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Sartre suggests that strict moral principles can hinder practical and necessary actions in politics.
In this quote, Jean-Paul Sartre expresses the idea that rigid moral codes, such as a prohibition against lying, can obstruct the effectiveness of political action. He implies that political decisions often require flexibility and pragmatism, and that an absolute stance against certain actions may limit one's ability to navigate complex situations. This reflects Sartre's existentialist views on ethics, emphasizing that context and intention can sometimes outweigh absolute moral dictates.
Themes
PoliticsMoralityFlexibilityActionPragmatism
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on ethics in leadership, one might cite this quote to showcase the complexities of moral decision-making in political contexts.
More from Jean-Paul Sartre
All quotes βAll I want is' - and he uttered the final words through clenched teeth and with a sort of shame - 'to retain my freedom.' I should myself have thought,' said Jacques, 'that freedom consisted in frankly confronting situations into which one had deliberately entered, and accepting all one's responsibilities. But that, no doubt, is not your view.
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If you are lonely when you're alone, you are in bad company.
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A kiss without a moustache, they said then, is like an egg without salt; I will add to it: and it is like Good without Evil.
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I wanted pure love: foolishness; to love one another is to hate a common enemy: I will thus espouse your hatred. I wanted Good: nonsense; on this earth and in these times, Good and Bad are inseparable: I accept to be evil in order to become good.
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Night is falling: at dusk, you must have good eyesight to be able to tell the Good Lord from the Devil.
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