Nothing We Do, However Virtuous, Can Be

The Scientific Observer Of The Realm Of Nature Is In A Sense Naturally And Inevitably Disinterested. At Least, Nothing In The Natural Scene Can Arouse His Bias. Furthermore, He Stands Completely Outside Of The Natural So That His Mind, Whatever His Limitations, Approximates Pure Mind. The Observer Of The Realm Of History Cannot Be Disinterested In The Same Way, For Two Reasons: First, He Must Look At History From Some Locus In History; Secondly, He Is To A Certain Degree Engaged In Its Ideological Conflicts.

Reason Is Not The Sole Basis Of Moral Virtue In Man. His Social Impulses Are More Deeply Rooted Than His Rational Life.

The Sad Duty Of Politics Is To Establish Justice In A Sinful World.

[there Is] An Increasing Tendency Among Modern Men To Imagine Themselves Ethical Because They Have Delegated Their Vices To Larger And Larger Groups.

We Take, And Must Continue To Take, Morally Hazardous Actions To Preserve Our Civilization. We Must Exercise Our Power. But We Ought Neither To Believe That A Nation Is Capable Of Perfect Disinterestedness In Its Exercise, Nor Become Complacent About A Particular Degree Of Interest And Passion Which Corrupt The Justice By Which The Exercise Of Power Is Legitimatized.