Star Wars Bookworms Book Club discussion

Tarkin tells the Emperor that "Someone once said that politics is little more than the systematic organization of hostilities."

First, does anyone know if this is an actual quote? Google doesn't turn up anything right off the bat.

Second, what does everyone think about this line? Agree? Disagree? Is it a useful commentary?

I haven't been able to find anywhere where this quote was used before. It may be original. Nonetheless, this is a very cynical way to generalize political discourse. It's a perfect idea to be expressed by Tarkin, or anyone who would promote and support the so called "rule by one" imperial way of governing.

In my high school government class I was taught that politics is the process in which people reconcile differences which fits fairly well with Tarkin's description. Though the tone of how Tarkin says it is, like Mike said, a lot more cynical than the definition I was taught.

While the phrasing is fairly cynical I think it's also just harshly honest. Just look at the past several elections in the United States, at all levels of government, and see how hostile the opposing sides are to each other. While political debate creates a healthy government what winds up happening many times is people yelling at each other across the aisle. I imagine this happens just as much in other countries, and also internationally between countries. In that sense I can see politics needing to organize hostilities. Perhaps the phrase "is little more than" creates the cynicism, though.

It sounds very Sun Tzu, but its not a real quote.