"Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all"

This quote by John W. Gardner speaks to the dangers of political extremism. He suggests that political extremism is characterized by two main components: an oversimplified view of the world's problems and a belief that there are specific people or groups responsible for these issues. This oversimplification of the world's issues can lead to a distorted view of reality and a lack of understanding of the complexities of the world. Furthermore, the identification of villains can lead to a dangerous us-versus-them mentality, which can lead to further polarization and conflict. Ultimately, Gardner's quote serves as a warning against the dangers of political extremism and the need to understand the complexities of the world in order to create meaningful solutions.