Whatever Hitler may ultimately prove to be, we know what Hitlerism has come to mean. It means naked, ruthless force reduced to an exact science and worked with scientific precision. In its effect it becomes almost irresistible. Hitlerism will never be defeated by counter-Hitlerism. It can only breed superior Hitlerism raised to nth degree. What is going on before our eyes is the demonstration of the futility of violence as also of Hitlerism. What will Hitler do with his victory? Can he digest so much power? Personally he will go as empty-handed as his not very remote predecessor Alexander. For the Germans he will have left not the pleasure of owning a mighty empire but the burden of sustaining its crushing weight. For they will not be able to hold all the conquered nations in perpetual subjection. And I doubt if the Germans of future generations will entertain unadulterated pride in the deeds for which Hitlerism will be deemed responsible. They will honour Herr Hitler as genius, as a brave man, a matchless organizer and much more. But I should hope that the Germans of the future will have learnt the art of discrimination even about their heroes. Anyway I think it will be allowed that all the blood that has been spilled by Hitler has added not a millionth part of an inch to the world's moral stature.

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Source: Harijan (22 June 1940), after the Nazi occupation of France.

About this quote

Fight a brutal method with the same method and you don't end it — you perfect it and hand it to the next round. The insight is that means shape ends: adopting your enemy's tactics turns you into a version of them, and even total conquest leaves the winner burdened with holding it rather than freed by it.

When to use it

  • A company that answers a rival's smear campaign with its own drags both brands into the mud.
  • Two neighbors trading louder and louder retaliations over a fence end up in court, angrier than they started.
  • A parent who meets a child's shouting with more shouting teaches the child that the loudest voice wins.