“It's disconcerting to realize that businessmen, generals, soldiers, men of action are less corrupted by power than intellectuals… You take a conventional man of action, and he's satisfied if you obey. But not the intellectual. He doesn't want you just to obey. He wants you to get down on your knees and praise the one who makes you love what you hate and hate what you love. In other words, whenever the intellectuals are in power, there's soul-raping going on.”

—  Eric Hoffer

Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO1HqWUMxbs#t=2m23s with Eric Sevareid (1967)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "It's disconcerting to realize that businessmen, generals, soldiers, men of action are less corrupted by power than inte…" by Eric Hoffer?
Eric Hoffer photo
Eric Hoffer240
American philosopher 1898–1983

Related quotes

Wernher von Braun photo

“Everything in space obeys the laws of physics. If you know these laws, and obey them, space will treat you kindly. And don't tell me that man doesn't belong out there. Man belongs wherever he wants to go — and he’ll do plenty well when he gets there.”

Wernher von Braun (1912–1977) German, later an American, aerospace engineer and space architect

As quoted in Time (17 February 1958)

Larry Bird photo

“It's not what he says, it is how he says it that is making the difference. He doesn't scream at you, he doesn't embarrass you when you make a mistake. He just looks at you, and you get the message. Then when the time is right, he'll talk to you calmly and explain what he wants.”

Larry Bird (1956) basketball player and coach

Travis Best — reported in The Hawk Eye staff (January 16, 1998) "Bird achieves", The Hawk Eye.
About

Lisa See photo

“Obey, obey, obey, then do what you want.”

Lisa See book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Source: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Nicholas Sparks photo

“Love doesn't mean anything if you're not willing to make a commitment, and you have to think not only about what you want, but about what he wants. Not just now, but in the future.”

Nicholas Sparks book Safe Haven

Jo, Chapter 23, p. 192
Source: 2009, Safe Haven (2010)

Menotti Lerro photo

“If you want understand how a woman loves you just have to listen her words backwards. If you want to understand how a man loves, when he talks about love you must close your ears.”

Menotti Lerro (1980) Italian poet

Donna Giovanna, Act I, scene ii.
Theater Quotes

Robert Jordan photo

“I will hate the man you choose because he isn't me, and love him if he makes you smile.”

Robert Jordan book The Eye of the World

Source: The Eye of the World

“He says, "I have loved you since the first moment I saw you. I wanted you then, and when I thought you didn't want me, I turned my love into hate."

"Ethan…" Before I say another word his mouth comes down over mine and he kisses me.”

Marianne Curley book The Key

Source: The Key

George Carlin photo

“There's this man who lives in the sky, and he has ten things he doesn't want you to do, and you'll burn for a long time if you do them. But he loves you.”

George Carlin (1937–2008) American stand-up comedian

André Gide photo

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.”

André Gide (1869–1951) French novelist and essayist

Frequently misattributed to Marilyn Monroe or Kurt Cobain.
Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=xUtdDnEhkMMC&pg=PT12&lpg=PT12#v=onepage&q&f=false
Source: Autumn Leaves, Philosophical eLibrary, 2012, (Feuillets d'automne, 1941, trans. Jeanine Parisier Plottel)

Related topics