If Hitler had been a crook... We're very fortunate in the United States, we've never had a charismatic leader who weren't a gangster. Every one of them was a thug, or a robber, or something. Which is fine, then they don't cause a lot of trouble. If you get one who's honest, like Hitler, then you're in trouble - they just want power.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Chomsky argues that charismatic leaders who are honest and seek pure power are more dangerous than incompetent thugs who do not cause major trouble.
- In plain terms
- Charismatic leaders who want power for themselves are worse than bad leaders who just want money or are stupid.
- What can you take from it?
- Personal integrity combined with a hunger for power creates extreme risk.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a leader truly dangerous?
- How do we check charismatic ambition?
Another view
The characterization of Hitler as honest simplifies complex historical reality.
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