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Quote of the Day: The More Things Change…
“Do you not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?” — Axel Oxenstierna, in a 1648 letter to his son Johan Oxenstierna, who was negotiating at the Peace of Westphalia
The wise statesman (and the Count of Södermöre certainly earned that title – he was respected across all Europe) rapidly realized that many of the leaders of the world are fools, even more so than oneself. This realization is alternately a relief and utterly horrifying.
Even the people laying the groundwork for the modern nation-state had their share of morons, although 370 years later we can see this folly demonstrated much more rapidly.
Published in Politics
Axel Oxenstierna worked to avoid folly being pragmatic and willing to try different approaches, almost like a political version of the scientific method. Sometimes a flip-flop is warranted.
There are 8 openings on the December Quote of the Day Schedule, the easiest way to start a conversation on Ricochet. We’ve even include tips for finding great quotes, so join in the fun and sign up today!
Socrates.
Socrates what?
Everything about Socrates. He knows what he doesn’t know. He exposes politicians who don’t know what they don’t know. And more.
Thanks and In Hoc Signo Vinces
When I was a young Marine I was exposed to a few politicians at what we called ‘dog & pony’ shows. Not all of course but some politicians do not know [expletive] from Shinola. I was more than just a bit startled the first time I discovered that fact but I managed to keep on my game face.
…and be wary of the Congressional “Staffers.” Highly educated know nothings who speak a language all of their own while getting rich and scratching everyones back except yours; but, they do love power and money (above all else).
A sign of a bad education. They didn’t learn a thing from Socrates.
https://youtu.be/11H_qkkLwUY
In a republic with a moral populace. Altruistic people will fill gov offices. There once was a term known as civil servant. As the populace jettisons morality and heads down the depraved road. More and more grifters will fill those offices. As this happens, smart people will be pushed out. Smart people know better than to play on the grifters play ground, for they will be smeared and villanized . We are left with idiots and malicious intellectuals running the place.
I read, and liked, this post during a wakeful period in the wee hours of the morning, probably only a few minutes after it was published. Perhaps it worked on what’s left on my weary and aged brain, after I went back to sleep.
There is much wisdom in the comments above. Much wisdom and truth in the QOTD itself. And much wisdom in the title of the post and the rest of the quote it’s referencing.
But, I think this about the matter: Axel Oxenstierna (great name, I looked him up) wrote those words in 1648, in a letter to his son, urging the young man not to feel inadequate and ignorant as he took his place as a delegate for the negotiations which led to the Peace of Westphalia. To put it in twenty-first century terms, it sounds as if Johan was worried that he’d stand out as a provincial hick compared to all the highly-educated and worldly statesmen he’d be among at the conference. Johan pushed, what we around here, call the “Dad” button, and his dad reassured him.
Axel told his son that the world is governed by, at best nitwits, and at worst, the venal, the greedy, and the corrupt. And that none of them was any better than, and most of them were not as good, or as worthy, or as smart, as his son. I hope his paternal advice comforted Johan, and that he acquitted himself well at the conference.
In spite of their truth, though, it cannot be gainsaid that a century and a quarter after Axel Oxenstierna wrote those words to his son, some right-thinking and brave men, citizens of my native land, had a vision, took some action, and radically changed the history of the world for the next two-hundred years. Along the way, they and their descendants made the world a much better, brighter, place for billions of people who came after them.
May that happen again. I refuse to give up or give in. If history really does always repeat, or at least rhyme, there are better days ahead. Because one day, the best of history will repeat, too. All we must do, with everything we have, is be patient, know when we’re in the right, keep spreading the word and the Word, do what each of us can to move the needle, and always, always stand our ground whatever it takes to do so.* Doing otherwise diminishes and dishonors the brave men of today and the past who have given so much to get us to this point.
*Oh, and it helps to have a plan. What’s the plan?
Did they even hear about Socrates?!
Not to be irreverent, but a paraphrase springs to mind: “The dolts/sycophants/self-serving you will always have with you.”
This puts me in mind of a quote from Samuel Clemens:
All available evidence points to the latter.
I ask too.
I don’t recall which member of Congress it was, but one of them professed to feeling a sense of awe when he first entered the halls and saw the portraiture, the statuary, the stately columns — he asked himself “How did I get here?”
This question eventually succumbed to “How did any of these idiots get here?”
Once again, I kept trying to hit the “LOL” button but I was shaking too much from laughter. Thx.