"A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights"
- Napoleon Bonaparte
About this Quote
This quote by Napoleon Bonaparte speaks to the concept that individuals are most likely to fight for something that they have an individual stake in, rather than something that is a general right. This might be analyzed to imply that individuals are more likely to fight for something that they have an individual interest in, such as their job, their household, or their possessions, rather than something that is a general right, such as flexibility of speech or the right to vote. This might be viewed as a commentary on humanity, suggesting that people are most likely to combat for something that they have an individual connection to, instead of something that is a general right. It might likewise be viewed as a call to action, encouraging individuals to combat for their interests, instead of just depending on their rights. Eventually, this quote speaks with the concept that people are most likely to eliminate for something that they have an individual stake in, rather than something that is a basic right.
"In fact men will fight for a superstition quite as quickly as for a living truth - often more so, since a superstition is so intangible you cannot get at it to refute it, but truth is a point of view, and so is changeable"
"I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war"