Comment on Yeats’ lines “the best lack all conviction, while theworst are full of passionate intensity.”

Question

Does this strike you as a pretty accurate description of the past 50-100 years?

Answer 1

Example in current times.

The republicans today lack conviction, except for the extreme religious fanatics. While the democrats are full of passionate intensity, except for the moderates.

Answer 2

It is a matter of Extreme. Usually, when any issue is looked at, there is good and bad in each argument. It is only when one becomes so extreme that they loose the ability or desire to consider all the perspectives and sides does one become truly "wrong".

Hence, the "best" lack an extreme "conviction" that allows them to find the merits of each issue. The "worst" allow there "passionate intensity" to blind them from the ideas and perspectives of others. they become so immerses in their rightness, they believe they can do no wrong in fighting for it.

I would say however, you are wrong about the "past 50-100 years". If you study history, it has always been that way, based off of History and human behavior, it will continue to always be that way. It is the job of reasonable people to balance the wrongs of the extreme. Good will never annihilate evil (nor evil totally defeat Good), balance is all we can hope for.

Thanks for the quote, Be safe.