He [Muller] was an archetypal middle-rank official: of limited imagination, non-political, non-ideological, his only fanaticism lay in an inner drive to perfection in his profession and in his duty to the state - which in his mind were one... A smallish man with piercing eyes and thin lips, he was an able organizer, utterly ruthless, a man who lived for his work.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He was a typical mid-level official driven by professional perfection and duty to the state rather than ideology.
- In plain terms
- He was a ruthless organizer who loved his work more than any political cause.
- What can you take from it?
- Professional obsession can drive people to serve any regime.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can duty replace morality?
- What drives a careerist?
Another view
The text describes his character but not his actual outcomes.
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