One feels of him that there was much he did not understand, but not that there was anything that he was frightened of saying or thinking. I have never been able to feel much liking for Gandhi, but I do not feel sure that as a political thinker he was wrong in the main, nor do I believe that his life was a failure.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Orwell states he never liked Gandhi personally but believes Gandhi was not wrong in his main political thoughts and his life was not a failure.
- In plain terms
- Orwell did not like Gandhi but respected his political ideas and thought his life was not a failure.
- What can you take from it?
- Separate personal feelings from political assessment when evaluating figures.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can you respect an idea without liking the person?
- How do we measure political success?
Another view
The assessment relies on Orwell's subjective political view.
More from George Orwell
It seems doubtful whether civilization can stand another major war, and it is at least thinkable that the way out lies through non-violence.
Permalink to quote #132 The British did get out of India without fighting, an event which very few observers indeed would have predicted until about a year before it happened.
Permalink to quote #134 The assumption, which served Gandhi so well in dealing with individuals, that all human beings are more or less approachable and will respond to a generous ges…
Permalink to quote #131
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