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About this quote

What does it mean?
Politics is dominated by those without grand ideals, while great individuals avoid it.
In plain terms
Great people do not enter politics.
What can you take from it?
Recognize the gap between true greatness and political power.

Where it applies

  • political discourse
  • leadership analysis
  • career choices

Putting it to work

  • evaluate leaders critically
  • pursue non-political impact

Questions to consider

  • Why do great people avoid politics?
  • Is politics inherently unidealistic?

Another view

Many great leaders have participated in politics.

More from Albert Camus

  1. Philosophy secularizes the ideal. But tyrants appear who soon secularize the philosophies that give them the right to do so.

    Permalink to quote #185
  2. Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.

    Permalink to quote #187
  3. Our most effective terrorists, whether they are armed with bombs or with poetry, hardly escape from infancy.

    Permalink to quote #184

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