Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Politics divides between those who want control and those who do not, regardless of labels.
- In plain terms
- Labels like liberal or conservative don't matter; do you want to control others?
- What can you take from it?
- Look beyond party tags to see if someone favors control or freedom.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you want to control others?
- Which labels matter most?
Another view
It oversimplifies complex political ideologies and motivations.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
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