Maybe Talleyrand represented some of the qualities. Ruthless, selfish, self-absorbed, very cynical and pragmatic, but when the times called his principles led him to decisions (and manipulations) that maintained peace in Europe for 100 years after the Vienna 1815 congress.
States are maintained by the ideals upon which they were created. Tomas Garrigue Masaryk.
In the short term politics is what decides. In the medium term it's economy. In the long run, it's culture.
I agree - the world needs a leader which is a practical philosopher of Aurelius/Masaryk kind - the synthesis of theory and practice. But as Reto Berra stated in his koan: In theory, theory and practice are the same. But in practice - they aren't!!!
How rare are those philosopher kings? And is our system meritocratic enough, that such people can rise to become leaders?
Maybe Talleyrand represented some of the qualities. Ruthless, selfish, self-absorbed, very cynical and pragmatic, but when the times called his principles led him to decisions (and manipulations) that maintained peace in Europe for 100 years after the Vienna 1815 congress.
Your best yet!
States are maintained by the ideals upon which they were created. Tomas Garrigue Masaryk.
In the short term politics is what decides. In the medium term it's economy. In the long run, it's culture.
I agree - the world needs a leader which is a practical philosopher of Aurelius/Masaryk kind - the synthesis of theory and practice. But as Reto Berra stated in his koan: In theory, theory and practice are the same. But in practice - they aren't!!!
How rare are those philosopher kings? And is our system meritocratic enough, that such people can rise to become leaders?