Quote of the Day (Jacques Barzun, on ‘The Desire to Annihilate’ in Politics)

“The scrimmage of politics is for the purpose of determining who shall transact the government's business. If in the struggle the desire to accomplish one's purpose turns into a desire to annihilate one's opponent, the outcome is civil war. Historically, this desire to annihilate finds its support and justification in Intellect, in ideas, for ideas are clear-cut and divide. Material interests can be compromised, principles cannot."—French-American historian and educator Jacques Barzun (1907-2012), The House of Intellect (1959)