Viewpoints
Opinion

Extremists and the Pleasures of Destruction

Extremists and the Pleasures of Destruction
Notre-Dame de Paris rising above Ile de la Cité, photographed by Charles Soulier, 1865. Library of Congress
|Updated:
Commentary

It’s a matter of speculation how far a person’s political opinions are determined by his temperament, his circumstances, and his ratiocination, but it’s certainly true that many extremists make their choice young, burn their boats, and then can’t return—at least for a very long time—to normal life.

Theodore Dalrymple
Theodore Dalrymple
Author
Theodore Dalrymple is a retired doctor. He is contributing editor of the City Journal of New York and the author of 30 books, including “Life at the Bottom.” His latest book is “Embargo and Other Stories.”
Related Topics