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About this quote

What does it mean?
Effective ideologies often combine tradition with futuristic promises. Believers need strong motivation to die for a cause.
In plain terms
Religions need tradition and future promises to attract people.
What can you take from it?
Ideologies must offer comfort and hope to endure.

Where it applies

  • politics
  • religious conversion
  • social movements

Putting it to work

  • offer tradition and hope
  • understand why people follow ideologies

Questions to consider

  • What makes a belief strong?
  • Why do people die for ideas?

Another view

Charisma often matters more than doctrine.

More from Orson Scott Card

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  2. It seems that the more I learn, the less I know. While the more ignorant remain absolutely certain of their convictions

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  3. For 2 people to love each other, they have to meet, don't they? And 2 people who live in utterly different worlds have no chance of meeting

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