Since I am an immature and wicked man, war and unrest appeal to me more than good bourgeois order. Brutality is respected, the people need wholesome fear. They want to fear someone. They want someone to frighten them and make them shudderingly submissive.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He claims that his immature, wicked nature makes him attracted to war and cruelty, believing people need fear and a strong hand.
- In plain terms
- He says he likes war because it scares people.
- What can you take from it?
- Fear can be used as a tool of control, but it erodes humanity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why might someone equate fear with order?
- What are the consequences of ruling by terror?
Another view
The view glorifies violence and dismisses ethical concerns.
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