Collective unity is not the result of the brotherly love of the faithful for each other. The loyalty of the true believer is to the whole - the church, party, nation - and not to his fellow true believer. True loyalty between individuals is possible only in a loose and relatively free society.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True loyalty in mass movements is to the abstract whole, not to individual fellow members.
- In plain terms
- Believers are loyal to the group, not necessarily to each other as individuals.
- What can you take from it?
- Individual loyalty thrives in freedom; group loyalty often overrides it.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who or what are you loyal to?
- Does the group matter more than people?
Another view
Fellowship often exists within groups alongside loyalty to the whole.
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