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About this quote

What does it mean?
Disraeli observes that people often debate morals after societies or structures have already failed.
In plain terms
People argue about right and wrong after things have fallen apart.
What can you take from it?
Criticism is easy after destruction.

Where it applies

  • post-conflict
  • historical analysis
  • recovery

Putting it to work

  • learn from loss
  • act before failure
  • avoid hindsight

Questions to consider

  • Is it useful to judge morality after ruin?
  • When should moral reflection happen?

Another view

Post-mortem analysis is sometimes the only way to understand failure.

More from Benjamin Disraeli

  1. Everything comes if a man will only wait.

    Permalink to quote #157
  2. London is a modern Babylon.

    Permalink to quote #159
  3. When little is done, little is said; silence is the mother of truth.

    Permalink to quote #156

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