It should not be presumed that these people (the Jews), who are so separated from us by their religion, have any right to make our laws. But why blame the Jews? It is we who lack all feeling for our own identity, all sense of honour.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Jews are denied a role in lawmaking, but the real issue is our own loss of identity and honor.
- In plain terms
- Blaming Jews for lawmaking ignores our own identity crisis.
- What can you take from it?
- Reflect on personal and collective identity rather than scapegoating.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can societies rebuild a sense of honor without scapegoating?
- What role should diverse groups play in lawmaking?
Another view
The statement is antisemitic and oversimplifies complex societal problems.
More from Richard Wagner
Music has taken a bad turn; these young people have no idea how to write a melody, they just give us shavings, which they dress up to look like a lion's mane a…
Permalink to quote #2 I am writing Parsifal only for my wife -- if I had to depend on the German spirit, I should have nothing more to say.
Permalink to quote #4 The error in the art-genre of Opera consists herein: a Means of expression (Music) has been made the end, while the End of expression (the Drama) has been made…
Permalink to quote #1
Related quotes
The sevenfold path of blackness is think black, talk black, act black, create black, buy black, vote black, and live black.
Ron KarengaRon Karenga quote #1 Enillwn y Fro Gymraeg, ac fe enillir Cymru, ac oni enillir y Fro Gymraeg, nid Cymru a enillir.'
Owain OwainOwain Owain quote #2 When my mother delivered me, she didn't have milk, and I was breastfed by an Arab woman. Maybe that had an effect on my leftist views.
Amir PeretzAmir Peretz quote #3