Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Politics often relies on organizing divisions and animosities rather than building unity.
In plain terms
Political systems are built on hate, not peace.
What can you take from it?
Be aware that political agendas may exploit existing grudges.

Where it applies

  • political analysis
  • campaign strategy
  • civic engagement

Putting it to work

  • evaluate political rhetoric
  • identify divisive tactics
  • build bridges

Questions to consider

  • How often does politics divide rather than unite?
  • Can politics exist without hatred?

Another view

This view may overlook instances where politics genuinely unites people.

More from Henry Adams

  1. Philosophy: unintelligible answers to insoluble problems.

    Permalink to quote #42
  2. The woman who is known only through a man is known wrong.

    Permalink to quote #44
  3. No man, however strong, can serve ten years as schoolmaster, priest, or Senator, and remain fit for anything else.

    Permalink to quote #41

Related quotes

  1. The awareness that we are all human beings together has become lost in war and through politics.

    Albert SchweitzerAlbert Schweitzer quote #5
  2. People like you always help the far-right, because you like to hurt people, and you like to talk about how bad people are and all their personal failings.

    Bill ClintonBill Clinton quote #29
  3. The nation is deeply divided and the two camps seem to be talking past each other. John Kerry won all three debates but President Bush invokes his faith and th…

    George SorosGeorge Soros quote #52