I began writing when I was still in the British Foreign Service, and it was then understood that even if you wrote about butterfly collecting, you used another name.
John Le CarreRead
There will be no war, but in the pursuit of principle no stone will be left standing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the importance of adhering to principles, even if it leads to destruction.
John Le Carre's quote speaks to the often destructive nature of pursuing one's principles with unwavering commitment. It suggests that while the goal may not be war itself, the relentless pursuit of what one believes to be right can lead to significant upheaval and conflict, leaving no remnant of the status quo untouched in the quest for moral or ethical integrity.
Themes
PrinciplePursuitDestructionConflictIntegrity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about ethics in leadership, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of upholding principles.
More from John Le Carre
All quotes βIn every war zone that I've been in, there has been a reality and then there has been the public perception of why the war was being fought. In every crisis, the issues have been far more complex than the public has been allowed to know.
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The cat sat on the mat is not a story. The cat sat on the other catβs mat is a story.
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The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous.
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Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.
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If I had to put a name to it, I would wish that all my books were entertainments. I think the first thing you've got to do is grab the reader by the ear, and make him sit down and listen. Make him laugh, make him feel. We all want to be entertained at a very high level.
John Le CarreRead
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