Quote by John Fitzgerald Kennedy

In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger ended up inside.


In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding on t

Summary

This quote highlights the dangers of blindly pursuing power and aligning oneself with dangerous or violent forces. By likening the pursuit of power to riding on the back of a tiger, it suggests that those who think they can control or exploit such forces ultimately discover that they themselves become victims of the power they sought. It serves as a cautionary reminder to be mindful of the consequences of our actions and to choose our alliances wisely.

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Effort
By John Fitzgerald Kennedy
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Random Quotations

I got hold of a copy of the video that showed how Saddam Hussein had actually confirmed himself in power. This snuff-movie opens with a plenary session of the Ba'ath Party central committee: perhaps a hundred men. Suddenly the doors are locked and Saddam, in the chair, announces a special session. Into the room is dragged an obviously broken man, who begins to emit a robotic confession of treason and subversion, that he sobs has been instigated by Syrian and other agents. As the (literally) extorted confession unfolds, names begin to be named. Once a fellow-conspirator is identified, guards come to his seat and haul him from the room. The reclining Saddam, meanwhile, lights a large cigar and contentedly scans his dossiers. The sickness of fear in the room is such that men begin to crack up and weep, rising to their feet to shout hysterical praise, even love, for the leader. Inexorably, though, the cull continues, and faces and bodies go slack as their owners are pinioned and led away. When it is over, about half the committee members are left, moaning with relief and heaving with ardent love for the boss. (In an accompanying sequel, which I have not seen, they were apparently required to go into the yard outside and shoot the other half, thus sealing the pact with Saddam. I am not sure that even Beria or Himmler would have had the nerve and ingenuity and cruelty to come up with that.)

Christopher Hitchens