In "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ," Philip Pullman explores the tension between idealism and pragmatism. The quote reflects the dilemma of striving for perfection versus the reality of making compromises to achieve any level of success. The author suggests that while aiming for absolute purity may be noble, it often leads to failure, leaving one with nothing. On the other hand, making concessions can lead to partial success, which might still be valuable. This raises a thought-provoking question about the worth of absolutes versus the practical benefits of compromise in human endeavors. The balance between these two approaches is a central theme in the work.

In "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ," Philip Pullman explores the tension between idealism and pragmatism. The quote reflects the dilemma of striving for perfection versus the reality of making compromises to achieve any level of success. The author suggests that while aiming for absolute purity may be noble, it often leads to failure, leaving one with nothing.

On the other hand, making concessions can lead to partial success, which might still be valuable. This raises a thought-provoking question about the worth of absolutes versus the practical benefits of compromise in human endeavors. The balance between these two approaches is a central theme in the work.