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If you're a twofisted, spineless progressive (a mighty fashionable stance nowadays) Offissa Pupp, who forcefully asserts the will of socalled society, becomes a cosmic angel; while Ignatz Mouse, who forcefully defies society's socalled will by asserting his authentic own, becomes a demon of anarchy and a fiend of chaos. But if - whisper it - you're a 100% hidebound reactionary, the foot's in the other shoe. Ignatz Mouse then stands forth as a hero, pluckily struggling to keep the flag of free will flying; while Offissa Pupp assumes the monstrous mien of a Goliath, satanically bullying a tiny but indomitable David. Well, let's flip the coin - so: and lo! Offissa Pupp comes up. That makes Ignatz Mouse 'tails.' Now we have a hero whose heart has gone to his head and a villain whose head has gone to his heart.

E. E. Cummings#39

SocietyPoliticsBiasMorality

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote illustrates how moral judgment shifts depending on political bias.
In plain terms
Heroes and villains change based on which side of politics you support.
What can you take from it?
Political alignment often distorts moral perception.

Where it applies

  • political debate
  • media consumption
  • social discourse

Putting it to work

  • checking biases
  • seeking nuance
  • critical thinking

Questions to consider

  • How does your bias affect who you trust?
  • Can you see the other side's hero?

Another view

Some actions are objectively harmful regardless of politics.

More from E. E. Cummings

  1. A humbly poetic, gently clownlike, supremely innocent, and illimitably affectionate creature (slightly resembling a child's drawing of a cat, but gifted with t…

    Permalink to quote #38
  2. This hero and villain no more understand Krazy Kat than the mythical denizens of a two dimensional realm understand some three dimensional intruder. The world …

    Permalink to quote #40
  3. What concerns me fundamentaly is a meteoric burlesk melodrama, born of the immemorial adage love will find a way.

    Permalink to quote #37

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