Politics is too often regarded as a poor relation, inherently dependent and subsidiary; it is rarely praised as something with a life and character of its own. Bernard Crick More Quotes by Bernard Crick More Quotes From Bernard Crick A politics of vengeance is not politics. Revenge is a recklessness towards the future in a vain attempt to make the present abolish a suffering which is already past. Bernard Crick revenge suffering past Democracy is perhaps the most promiscuous word in the world of public affairs. Bernard Crick affair democracy world Politics are, as it were, the market place and the price mechanism of all social demands - though there is no guarantee that a just price will be struck; and there is nothing spontaneous about politics- it depends on deliberate and continuous activity. Bernard Crick guarantees-that demand political One of the symptoms of a declining social order is that its members have to give most of their time to politics, rather than to the real tasks of economic production, in an attempt to patch up the cracks already appearing from the 'inner contradictions' of such a system. Bernard Crick real giving order What matters in Politics is what men actually do - sincerity is no excuse for acting unpolitically, and insincerity may be channelled by politics into good results. Bernard Crick what-matters acting men Politics deserves much praise. Politics is a preoccupation of free men, and its existence is a test of freedom. The praise of free men is worth having, for it is the only praise which is free from either servility or condescension. Bernard Crick politics political men The plain truth is that what holds a free state together is neither general will nor a common interest, but simply politics itself. Bernard Crick politics political together The unique character of political activity lies, quite literally, in its publicity. Bernard Crick unique character lying Factory workers are not working for capitalism, they are working for a living wage. Bernard Crick factory-workers working-for-a-living factories The agony of international relations is the need to try to practice politics without the basic conditions for political order. Bernard Crick agony practice order In an abstract but real sense, Marxism arose through the breakdown first of religion and then of 'reason' as single sources of authority. Bernard Crick real reason firsts Politics is a way of ruling in divided societies without undue violence...politics is not just a necessary evil; it is a realistic good. Bernard Crick politics political evil The method of rule of the tyrant and the oligarch is quite simply to clobber, coerce, or overawe all or most other groups in the interest of their own. Bernard Crick method tyrants groups Free men stick their necks out. Bernard Crick necks sticks men Since the business of politics is the conciliation of differing interests, justice must not merely be done, but to be seen to be done. Bernard Crick interest done justice Quite apart from the prestige of technology, people do, after all, prefer a simple idea to a complex one. Bernard Crick technology simple ideas The political process is not tied to any particular doctrine. Genuine political doctrines, rather, are the attempt to find particular and workable solutions to this perpetual and shifty problem of conciliation. Bernard Crick doctrine politics political Totalitarian rule marks the sharpest contrast imaginable with political rule, and ideological thinking is an explicit and direct challenge to political thinking. Bernard Crick political challenges thinking The praise of free men is worth having, for it is the only praise which is free from either servility or condescension. Bernard Crick condescension-and praise men Politics has rough manners, but it is a very useful thing. Bernard Crick rough useful-things manners
