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On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition - which despises small interests to gain great ones.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld
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Interpretation

What this quote means

True generosity may mask a deeper ambition and disregard for smaller interests in favor of greater gains.

This quote suggests that what appears to be acts of kindness or generosity may actually be driven by self-serving motives. The author warns that in a system like democracy, without strong accountability measures, individuals may prioritize their ambitions over the well-being of smaller, often overlooked interests.

Themes

GenerosityAmbitionDemocracyAccountabilityInterests

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in discussions about political accountability in democratic systems.

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To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
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