A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.
Interpretation
Politicians focus on short-term goals, while statesmen prioritize long-term benefits for future generations.
This quote emphasizes the difference in perspective between politicians and statesmen. While politicians are often concerned with immediate electoral success and the issues that will help them win the next election, statesmen take a broader view, considering the long-lasting impact of their decisions on future generations. This mindset fosters a deeper sense of responsibility and ethical governance, which is essential for sustainable societal progress.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech discussing the importance of visionary leadership.
When I consider what some books have done for the world, and what they are doing, how they keep up our hope, awaken new courage and faith, soothe pain, give an ideal life those whose hours are cold and hard, bind together distant ages and foreign lands, create new worlds of beauty, bring down truth from heaven; I give eternal blessings for this gift, and thank God for books.
Within the U.N. itself, I have appointed a record number of women to high-level positions. I did not fill jobs with women just for the sake of it - I looked for the best possible candidate, and I found that if you strip away discrimination, the best possible candidate is often a woman.
Most discussions of decision making assume that only senior executives make decisions or that only senior executives' decisions matter. This is a dangerous mistake.
There should be more women directing; I think there's just not the awareness that it's really possible.
Presidents grow up in the White House. The times shape the man.
Endless data show that diverse teams make better decisions. We are building products that people with very diverse backgrounds use, and I think we all want our company makeup to reflect the makeup of the people who use our products. That's not true of any industry really, and we have a long way to go.
The strength of the team lies within the individual. And the strength of the individual lies within the team
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