"While many brilliant writers and speech makers have been battling passionately about communism, fascism, socialism, and democracy, our studies of how governmental organizations actually function have forced us to the conclusion that there is little significance to these terms. Indeed, it has been our general observation that not only in different countries, but from generation to generation men go on organizing their governments and earning their living in much the same manner. Notable changes and improvements can be credited from time to time to the scientists and engineers, and in general to improved technology, but throughout history economic laws and the processes of production and distribution display an utter contempt for changes in the political complexion of government. In appraising the many experiments in governmental organization that are being tried currently throughout the world, it is important that we should not be thrown off the track by the circumstance that the various revolutionary movements or changes in government have adopted different symbols around which to rally supporters. The vital point is the plain fact that, once the controlling group gets into power, the practical circumstances of the situation force the new leaders to organize the government according to principles of organization that are as old as the hills."
React to this quote
More by James D. Mooney
See allResonant Thoughts
"Certainly the neurotic, anxious child is compulsively concerned with security, for example; and certainly the neurotic adult, and we who study him, read our later formulations back in the unsuspecting…"
"An international system consists of a group of interacting behavior units called "nations" or "countries," to which may sometimes be added certain supra-national organizations, such as the United Nati…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"That political correctness should have become acceptable in Britain is a glaring symptom of the country's d…"
— George MacDonald Fraser"I don't work for myself. I work for you. I've fought corruption, and it didn't matter if the culprits were …"
— John McCain"The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men opportunity to work out happiness for …"
— William Ellery Channing"Most of the money that President Clinton and I raised has not been spent yet, and it will go into reconstru…"
— George H. W. Bush"1952 Ike for President TV Ad"
— Dwight D. Eisenhower"There was autocracy in political life, and it was superseded by democracy. So surely will democratic power …"
— George William Russell
Related Thinkers
Related Topics
Deep Dives
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on politics
- Erik Naggum on politics
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on knowledge
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on leadership
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on books
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on creativity
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on education
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on friendship
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on hope
- N. R. Narayana Murthy on life
- knowledge & Beauty
- knowledge & Change

