Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and

Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and

Peggy Noonan
22/09/2025
22/09/2025

Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.

(6 evaluate)
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and
Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and

Hear, O seekers of balance, the solemn words of Peggy Noonan: “Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty place, and they use politics to fill it up. It leaves them somehow misshapen.” In this teaching, she warns not against politics itself, but against the devouring hunger of obsession, which consumes the soul until nothing remains but the echo of power.

For the politically obsessed are not always fools. Many are clever, eloquent, and full of schemes. Yet, as Noonan declares, their brilliance is bent inward, feeding upon itself, because their hearts lack wholeness. They seek in politics what should be found in faith, in love, in art, in friendship. They try to mend the emptiness within by grasping at influence without, and in so doing, their spirits grow misshapen, like a tree twisted by unnatural winds.

History bears witness to such lives. Consider Maximilien Robespierre, who began the French Revolution as a man of ideals, bright and fervent for justice. Yet obsession consumed him, and all the fire of his soul narrowed into the machinery of terror. He became not the liberator of France but the servant of the guillotine, undone by his own excess. In him we see what Noonan describes: brilliance corroded by obsession, leaving behind a form bent out of shape.

So too in modern times, leaders and citizens alike sometimes allow politics to eclipse their humanity. They sacrifice family, neglect community, and abandon compassion in the name of party or ideology. Their world grows smaller, their hearts harder, until they no longer see people, but only allies or enemies. What was once passion for the good becomes an idol, demanding all and giving back nothing but emptiness.

Therefore, O children of wisdom, heed this warning: let politics be a tool, not a temple. Engage in the affairs of your community, but do not let them consume the wholeness of your spirit. For life is larger than power—its fullness is found in love, beauty, and the sacred mystery of existence. To lose these is to lose yourself. Noonan’s words endure as both caution and command: beware obsession, and remain whole.

Peggy Noonan
Peggy Noonan

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Have 6 Comment Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and

TLQuang Thinh Luong

The concept of the politically obsessed having something ‘missing’ in their nature is intriguing. Could it be that intense political focus, while intellectually stimulating, can lead to neglecting other important areas of personal development? How do we strike a balance between being informed and engaged in political matters without allowing it to overshadow personal growth, mental health, and relationships?

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NANhat An

Noonan’s point about the ‘hole’ in politically obsessed individuals is thought-provoking. Can politics be a form of avoidance or distraction from personal struggles or deeper questions of life? Is it healthier to approach politics with a balanced perspective, seeing it as one part of life, rather than letting it dominate our identity and emotional state? How can we ensure our political engagement is rooted in a holistic and grounded view of life?

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Jjeff

This quote makes me reflect on how easily people can become consumed by politics to the point of neglecting their emotional or spiritual well-being. Is there a way to stay politically engaged without it becoming an unhealthy obsession? How do we recognize when political involvement crosses the line into something that fills a deeper void rather than serving a purpose in making meaningful change in society?

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DKLuong Duc Kien

Noonan’s critique of the politically obsessed is a warning about how consuming any one passion, including politics, can lead to an unbalanced life. Can someone be an active participant in political life while still maintaining a sense of individuality and openness to other aspects of life? How do we ensure that our political involvement enhances our personal growth, rather than becoming a form of escape from deeper emotional or existential needs?

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BTBao Trann

The idea that political obsession can leave people ‘misshapen’ makes me think about the dangers of overidentifying with any single ideology or cause. Is it possible to be deeply engaged in politics while maintaining a sense of personal identity and a well-rounded life? How do we avoid using politics as a crutch to fill emotional or existential voids, especially when it starts to consume our thinking and interactions with others?

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