The Sometimes Arrogance of the Statesman

Few ever read the stately and dusty books of the great political philosophers, and those who do often do not realize what is really being said. The statesman at his desk, living in his mind ponders on the best way to run a society, nation, state, people. He wonders how to best manipulate the public's psychology from and to objects, and depending on his own fancy, he directs man into the paths of religion, or out of them; or he decides if a people are better served by being educated or ignorant; or he decides that one aspect of life comes before all others because the philosopher himself thinks it more important than the rest. Plato, when asked to construct what he deemed to be the perfect society, he wanted everyone to live modestly and equally, except for the ruling class, who, were the philosophers.

Statesman often think that in their great wisdom, that they are wiser than all, and can manage other's affairs better than others can. This is an appalling arrogance, and all statesman must realize this propensity in themselves to think that they know more about fabricating and selling glass than the glazer, or that they know more about a car than a mechanic, or that they can keep people employed better than a business owner, or that they can provide better healthcare than a doctor, or that they can build and sell better houses than the real-estate market.

If a statesman is worth his salt, he'd realize that he cannot possibly care for everything, know everything, and calculate the expenses and profits for everything. After all, what is he armed with but his philosophy and his politics? He knows little about the securities market, though he might understand economics. He knows little about a fast food chain although he might have an inkling for business. He understands little about the educative needs of a region, although he gets education and geography early well.

The statesman need to understand that in despite of how many cabinet members he has, or how many czars he hires, or how many commissions, assemblies, or bureaucracies he assembles, he will never be equipped to handle with any resemblance of grace, the workings of an entire civilization. Once the statesman understands this, perhaps he can begin to adopt a little humility and realize that no man can be forced to heaven; the use of coercion not withstanding. If a steersman truly wants to live to his full potential, he should discover justice,  live thereto, and establish just laws that will let men govern themselves.