Color Pie Philosophies: A Textual Breakdown

phalanxrobot:

After some working at it, I finally came to a conclusion as to the core philosophies of each color in Magic, both alone and interacting with one another. It is as follows:

Blue = Trying to Take Over the World
White = The Government
Red = Doing its Own Thing
Black = For Personal Gain
Green = For Nature

Selesnya: 
The Government for Nature
Azorius: 
The Gov’t Trying to Take Over the World
Dimir: 
Trying to Take Over the World for Personal Gain
Rakdos: 
Doing its Own Thing for Personal Gain
Gruul: 
Nature Doing its Own Thing
Simic: 
Trying to Take Over the World for Nature
Golgari: 
Personal Gain for Nature
Boros: 
The Government Doing its Own Thing
Orzhov: 
The Government of Personal Gain
Izzet: 
Doing its Own Thing to Take Over the World

Bant: 
The Government Trying to Take Over Nature
Esper: 
The Gov’t Trying to Take Over the World for Personal Gain
Grixis: 
Doing its Own Thing for Personal Gain to Take Over the World
Jund: 
Nature Doing its Own Thing for Personal Gain
Naya: 
The Government of Nature Doing its Own Thing

MtGFan here. I don’t agree with most of the above.

Blue, by itself, isn’t trying to take over the world. That’s just wrong. Blue, in an interview with Mark Rosewater, says this:

I believe in potential. I believe that anyone and anything has the ability to change for the better. Thus, my philosophy is simple: strive to be the best that you can be. Once you understand that you have the capacity to do anything, to be anything, all that stands in your way is your own self-doubt.

I HIGHLY recommend you guys read Mark Rosewater’s Making Magic articles about the color pie, all linked together here. Just work your way forward through the Mark Rosewater archives to find the other shards from Shards of Alara as well.