When the doctrine of allegiance to party can utterly up-end a man's moral constitution and make a temporary fool of him besides, what excuse are you going to offer for preaching it, teaching it, extending it, perpetuating it? Shall you say, the best good of the country demands allegiance to party? Shall you also say it demands that a man kick his truth and his conscience into the gutter, and become a mouthing lunatic, besides?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Loyalty to a political party should not require abandoning morality or conscience.
- In plain terms
- You should not ask people to ignore their morals just to support a political party.
- What can you take from it?
- Party loyalty must not override personal integrity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does loyalty become blind obedience?
- Can you support a party without losing yourself?
Another view
The critique overlooks cases where party alignment aligns with personal values.
More from Mark Twain
All you have to fear is your mother's cooking.
Permalink to quote #145 Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
Permalink to quote #147 If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.
Permalink to quote #144
Related quotes
It was expected of me that I was to bow to the name of Andrew Jackson, and follow him in all his motions, and windings, and turnings, even at the expense of my…
Davy CrockettDavy Crockett quote #20 It has been our absolutely basic historical experience that, in the long run, the only thing that can be truly successful and meaningful politically must first…
Vaclav HavelVaclav Havel quote #112 I would adopt a standpoint, irrespective of whether someone was for or against it, if I felt deeply that it was right for the movement.
Alfred RosenbergAlfred Rosenberg quote #4