To get people to do needed things is the perennial hard task of government, not to mention of religion and philosophy.
Interpretation
Effective leadership requires persuading people to take action, which is a constant challenge in governance, religion, and philosophy.
This quote by Gore Vidal highlights the fundamental difficulty leaders face across various fields, whether in government, religion, or philosophy, in motivating individuals to engage in necessary activities. It suggests that leadership is not just about making decisions but also about inspiring collective action and overcoming resistance to change or responsibility.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the responsibilities of leaders in society.
We must declare ourselves, become known; allow the world to discover this subterranean life of ours which connects kings and farm boys, artists and clerks. Let them see that the important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
American writers want to be not good but great; and so are neither.
Writing fiction has become a priestly business in countries that have lost their faith.
The important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
For the average American, freedom of speech is simply the freedom to repeat what everyone else is saying and no more.
Ayn Rand's 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society.... To justify and extol human greed and egotism is to my mind not only immoral, but evil.
There is no perfect fit when you're looking for the next big thing to do. You have to take opportunities and make an opportunity fit for you, rather than the other way around. The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have.
Hold on to your own ideal. . . . Above all, never attempt to guide or rule others, or, as the Yankees say, "boss" others. Be the servant of all.
One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.
Can one serve God and one's nation in parliament?
During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotions
As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to respond to the tasks of building a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa, a people-centred society free of hunger, poverty, disease and inequality, as well as Africa’s renaissance, to whose attainment President Nelson Mandela dedicated his whole life?
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