And all this madness, all this rage, all this flaming death of our civilization and our hopes, has been brought about because a set of official gentlemen, living luxurious lives, mostly stupid, and all without imagination or heart, have chosen that it should occur rather than that any one of them should suffer some infinitesimal rebuff to his country's pride.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He condemns privileged, unimaginative officials whose decisions cause societal collapse, blaming their lack of empathy and imagination.
- In plain terms
- Selfish elites cause societal decay through lack of imagination.
- What can you take from it?
- Demand accountable, empathetic leadership.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What mechanisms can curb elite indifference?
- How can imagination be fostered in governance?
Another view
Change can be slow despite public outcry.
More from Bertrand Russell
He asked my religion and I replied 'agnostic.' He asked how to spell it, and remarked with a sigh: 'Well, there are many religions, but I suppose they all wors…
Permalink to quote #192 I was told that The Chinese said they would bury me by the Western Lake and build a shrine to my memory. I have some slight regret that this did not happen, as…
Permalink to quote #194 As a lover of truth, the national propaganda of all the belligerent nations sickened me. As a lover of civilization, the return to barbarism appalled me.
Permalink to quote #191
Related quotes
Revolutionaries themselves are the last people to realize when, through force of time and circumstance, they have gradually become conservatives. It is scarcel…
Constant LambertConstant Lambert quote #2 As Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Oregon National Guard - with more than 1300 Guard troops and many other Oregon soldiers deployed overseas - it is my …
Ted KulongoskiTed Kulongoski quote #2 Takiego mamy prezydenta, na jakiego sobie zasluzylismy.
Lech WalesaLech Walesa quote #5