It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so, and will follow it by suppressing opposition, subverting all education to seize early the minds of the young, and by killing, locking up, or driving underground all heretics.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Religious or ideological groups tend to enforce their beliefs into law and suppress dissent when they gain political power.
- In plain terms
- When sects get power, they make their beliefs laws and stop anyone who disagrees.
- What can you take from it?
- Watch for ideology becoming enforced law.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who benefits from this law?
- Is opposition being silenced?
Another view
Not all groups seek to oppress when in power.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
In a mature society, 'civil servant' is semantically equal to 'civil master.'
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