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Full Idea
When Wittgenstein was once asked what one can do to improve the world, he replied: 'Improve yourself; that is the only thing you can do to improve the world'.
Gist of Idea
If you hope to improve the world, all you can do is improve yourself
Source
Ludwig Wittgenstein (talk [1935]), quoted by Ray Monk - Bertrand Russell: Ghost of Madness Ch.1
Book Ref
Monk,Ray: 'Bertrand Russell: Ghost of Madness' [Vintage 2001], p.14
A Reaction
This is rather startlingly pessimistic about politics, and I don't really believe it. If anything has ever improved me, it has usually come from the world, and been created by other people.