
"THE ALTRUIST IN POLITICS"
By Benjamin Cardozo
In this brief but incisive address, a young jurist reflects on the recurring moments when societies teeter on the edge of change. He observes how old institutions can lose their grip and how the lure of sweeping reform often awakens a desire for absolute equality. Drawing on the thoughts of Tolstoy, Eliot and other thinkers, he sketches the mindset that places the few as the measure of humanity while ignoring the masses.
The speaker then turns his attention to the doctrine of communism, questioning its practicality in a world driven by self‑interest and competition. He argues that true fairness must consider the varying degrees of labor, talent and effort, warning that a blanket equality of wealth may undermine both incentive and individual dignity. By confronting these ideas, he invites listeners to weigh the promises of altruistic politics against the lived realities of human ambition.
Language
en
Duration
~11 minutes (11K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Tom Weiss, and David Widger
Release date
1998-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1870–1938
A quiet, deeply influential judge, he helped shape modern American law with clear thinking and elegant prose. Best known for his years on New York’s highest court and the U.S. Supreme Court, he remains one of the most admired legal writers in American history.
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