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The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it. And anybody who does not want an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it, either. Government office should be received like a child’s Christmas present, with surprise and delight. Instead it is usually received like a diploma, an anticlimax that never seems worth the struggle to earn it.
Orson Scott Card
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Elections can often be a flawed process, as the desire to hold office may indicate unfitness for the role.

This quote by Orson Scott Card critiques the nature of political elections, suggesting that those who are overly eager to attain power may lack the necessary qualities to govern responsibly. It highlights a paradox where the ideal candidate should approach public service with humility and surprise rather than ambition, comparing the ideal acquisition of such office to the innocent joy of receiving a child's Christmas present, rather than the anticlimactic feeling of obtaining a diploma after much effort.

Themes

ElectionsGovernmentPowerHumilityPolitics

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared during a political debate to highlight the qualifications of candidates.

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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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