Few businessmen are capable of being in politics, they don't understand the democratic process, they have neither the tolerance or the depth it takes. Democracy isn't a business.
Interpretation
Businessmen often struggle to grasp the complexities of democracy because it requires a different mindset than that of running a business.
Malcolm Forbes emphasizes the distinction between business and politics, suggesting that the skills necessary for success in one area do not necessarily translate to the other. He argues that the nuances of democracy demand a level of tolerance and depth of understanding that many businessmen may lack, indicating that political leadership requires a different set of competencies than those employed in the corporate world.
In practice
In a speech about the role of businessmen in government.
Over the years, I've evolved a somewhat heretical but time-and mind-saving approach to books, articles, editorials that deal with weighty matters. More often than not, by beginning at the end and contemplating the conclusions, one can determine if it's worth going through the whole to get there.
Those who enjoy responsibility usually get it; those who merely like exercising authority usually lose it.
To live long and achieve happiness, cultivate the art of radiating happiness.
The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
If you never budge, don't expect a push.
It's never a good deal when only one party thinks it is.
Democracy is a system where people are counted not weighed.
There may be circumstances in which damaging our relationship with countries over human rights is counterproductive and the benefits to human rights may be very small because of our limited capacity to enforce our stance. That was the dilemma the United States faced after Tiananmen Square.
Well, it all began with Democracy. Before we had the vote all the power was in the hands of rich people. If you had money you could get health care, education, look after yourself when you were old, and what democracy did was to give the poor the vote and it moved power from the marketplace to the polling station, from the wallet...to the ballot.
By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.
When it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, I will take no options off the table. ... That includes all elements of American power: a political effort aimed at isolating Iran, a diplomatic effort to sustain our coalition and ensure that the Iranian program is monitored, an economic effort that imposes crippling sanctions and, yes, a military effort to be prepared for any contingency.
American politics used to be an amateur sport. But somewhere along the way, we handed over to professionals all the things people used to do for free.
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