Du Bois marked a great stage in the history of Negro struggles when he said that Negroes could no longer accept the subordination which Booker T. Washington had preached.
C. L. R. JamesRead
Property-owners are the most energetic flag-waggers and patriots in every country, but only so long as they enjoy their possessions: to safeguard those they desert God, King and Country in a twinkling.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that property owners often prioritize their possessions over loyalty to their country or ideals.
C. L. R. James critiques the behavior of property owners, implying that their patriotism is conditional and largely driven by self-interest. When their possessions are threatened, their allegiance to God, King, and Country can quickly fade, revealing the superficial nature of their loyalty. This observation serves as a reflection on how material wealth can influence personal values and societal responsibilities.
Themes
PatriotismPropertyLoyaltySelf-InterestCritique
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on political priorities in a community meeting.
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I was a Labour Party man but I found myself to the left of the Labour party in Nelson, militant as that was. I came to London and in a few months I was a Trotskyist.
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Today, in American imperialism, the commodity has reached its most grandiose historical manifestation.
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