Politics is what happens when you have a difference of opinion that cannot be solved by fighting or by walking away. Politics is the continuation of war by other means. Politics is how we divide up the spoils. Politics is how we decide what’s yours and what’s mine. Politics is how we justify what we’re going to do and how we rationalise what we just did. Politics is how we compete and how we cooperate. Politics is how the bully maintains their power and how the weaklings overthrow the bully. Politics is the central nervous system of humanity. Politics is life and death. Politics is self-interest masquerading as principle. Politics is that which pretends it isn’t politics. Politics is the art of assembling and exercising power.