“Governing is not merely about making others submit, obey and carry out orders. Ruling is the art of making choices and giving priority to the greater public interest based on the principles of honesty and justice.”

Last update Nov. 30, 2023. History

Related quotes

“To obey a rule, to make a report, to give an order, to play a game of chess, are customs”

Ludwig Wittgenstein book Philosophical Investigations

uses, institutions
§ 199
Philosophical Investigations (1953)

“Authority intoxicates, And makes mere sots of magistrates;
The fumes of it invade the brain, And make men giddy, proud and vain;
By this the fool commands the wise, The noble with the base complies,
The sot assumes the rule of wit, and cowards make the base submit.”

Samuel Butler (poet) (1612–1680) poet and satirist

From Miscellaneous Thoughts, lines 283-290 ; as contained in The Poetical Works of Samuel Butler: A Revised Edition with Memoir and Notes, Volume 2, Samuel Butler, G. Bell & Sons (1893), pp. 275-276

“The rules of art do not exist, because what makes art art is the fact that it obeys no rules at all.”

Elfriede Jelinek book Wonderful, Wonderful Times

p 44
Wonderful, Wonderful Times (1990)

“The people of Scotland want a Government based on principle but able to move with mainstream opinion to build consensus in the public interest.”

Alex Salmond (1954) Scottish National Party politician and former First Minister of Scotland

Principles and Priorities : Programme for Government (September 5, 2007)

“Roman! be thine the sovereign arts of sway;
Nobly to rule, and make the world obey:
Give peace its laws; respect the prostrate foe:
Abase the lofty, and exalt the low.”

Charles Symmons (1749–1826) Welsh poet

Book VI, lines 1134–1137
The Æneis (1817)

“The great need in the world today is for for nations to so define their national interest that it makes for greater harmony, greater equality and justice and greater stability in the world.”

Indíra Gándhí (1917–1984) Indian politician and Prime Minister

Source: 1980 to Roy Jenkins < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHk9zoG6PXw

“What would Deftmenes be if we went around obeying orders all the time?'
'They might be ruling the Carpet,' said Pismire.
'Ha!' said Brocando, 'but the trouble about obeying orders is, it becomes a habit. And then everything depends on who's giving the orders.”

Terry Pratchett book The Carpet People

The Carpet People (1971; 1992)

“What is at at stake now is the peace of the world. What we are striving for is a new international order based upon broad and universal principles of right and justice, -- no mere peace of shreds and patches.”

Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American politician, 28th president of the United States (in office from 1913 to 1921)

1910s, Address to Congress: Analyzing German and Austrian Peace Utterances (1918)

“philosophy must obey its own rules and be based upon its own principles; truth, however, can only be one.”

Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) 264th Pope of the Catholic Church, saint

Encyclical Fides et Ratio, 14 September 1998 <br class="br">Source: www.vatican.va http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio_en.html

“Of course, the power and authority of courts — whether to improperly take policymaking power for themselves or to engage in legitimate decision making — is dependent upon the weight of their judgment. That is, it depends on their credibility with the public and the other branches of government. Judicial decisions are obeyed, in large part, because the judgment of the federal Judiciary is respected. But it is perhaps underappreciated that when courts apply an activist philosophy that stretches the law to suit policy preferences, they actually reduce the credibility and authority of the Judiciary. In so doing, they undermine the rule of law that strengthens our democracy. In contrast, a judge who humbly understands the role of the courts in our tripartite system of government decides cases based on neutral principles. He generally defers to the judgment of the political branches, and respects precedent – the collective wisdom of those who have gone before. In so doing, that judge strengthens respect for the Judiciary, upholds the rule of law, and permits the people — through their elected representatives — to make choices about the issues of the day.”

Alberto Gonzales (1955) 80th United States Attorney General

Speech to American Enterprise Institute (January 17, 2007)

“Governing is not merely about making others submit, obey and carry out orders. Ruling is the art of making choices and giving priority to the greater public interest based on the principles of honesty and justice.”

Related quotes

Related topics