We have not overthrown the divine right of kings to fall down for the divine right of experts.
Harold MacmillanRead
(A Foreign Secretary) is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The role of a Foreign Secretary involves balancing between safe, clichéd statements and risky, potentially indiscreet ones.
Harold Macmillan's quote highlights the delicate position of a Foreign Secretary, emphasizing the challenge of navigating between the predictability of clichéd responses and the danger of making indiscreet remarks. This reflects the intricate balance required in diplomacy, where the choice of words can significantly impact international relations and negotiations.
Themes
Foreign SecretaryDiplomacyPoliticsCommunicationDiscretion
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the challenges of political communication.
More from Harold Macmillan
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Power? It's like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, there is nothing there.
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The wind of change is blowing through the continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.
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