Alas, how easily things go wrong! A sigh too much, a kiss too long And there follows a mist and a weeping rain And life is never the same again
George MacdonaldRead
It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that the most capable individuals often avoid political power, which is why they are not elected.
George Macdonald reflects on the nature of politics, asserting that those who are truly qualified and virtuous are typically disinclined to seek political office. This creates a paradox where the political system is filled with individuals less suited for leadership, as the truly 'best' individuals prioritize their moral values and reluctance to govern over personal ambition.
In practice
In a discussion about the current political climate, this quote can help highlight the challenges of finding suitable leaders.
Alas, how easily things go wrong! A sigh too much, a kiss too long And there follows a mist and a weeping rain And life is never the same again
He may delay because it would not be safe to give us at once what we ask: we are not ready for it. To give ere we could truly receive, would be to destroy the very heart and hope of prayer, to cease to be our Father. The delay itself may work to bring us nearer to our help, to increase the desire, perfect the prayer, and ripen the receptive condition.
When I can no more stir my soul to move, and life is but the ashes of a fire; when I can but remember that my heart once used to live and love, long and aspire- O, be thou then the first, the one thou art; be thou the calling, before all answering love, and in me wake hope, fear, boundless desire.
But words are vain; reject them allβ They utter but a feeble part: Hear thou the depths from which they call, The voiceless longing of my heart.
Few delights can equal the presence of one whom we trust utterly.
What distressed me most - more even than my own folly - was the perplexing question - How can beauty and ugliness dwell so near? Even with her altered complexion and face of dislike; disenchanted of the belief that clung around her; known for a living, walking sepulcher, faithless, deluding, traitorous; I felt, notwithstanding all this, that she was beautiful. Upon this I pondered with undiminished perplexity.
No man who ever held the office of president would congratulate a friend on obtaining it.
I can express all my views on the slavery question by quotations from Henry Clay.
Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse.
You know, there is a long tradition in the U.S. of, um, promoting elections up to the point that you get an outcome you don't like. Look at Latin America in the Cold War.
There are many causes why a people politically ignorant cannot be roused to action. Perfect political ignorance must be accompanied by indifference to the general interests of society, and thus one of the most powerful motives which can act on the human mind is totally destroyed.
Our friends at the Republican convention were more than happy to talk about everything they think is wrong with America, but they didn't have much to say about how they'd make it right. They want your vote, but they don't want you to know their plan.
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