April 21, 2025

Politics, n. strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles

Ambrose Bierce 1842-c.1914, American writer, The Portable Curmudgeon, Jon Winokur, ed. (New York: 1987), p.220

When were interests not informed by principles? The question is then, which principles? Which are yours, and how successful have you been in promoting them? Hiding them?

Principles are often the penultimate refuge of scoundrels (patriotism being the last), and some politicians are positively priestly when invoking them. The test of sincerity is that the same principles hold on Friday as were invoked on Monday.