Leadership Quote by William Lyon Mackenzie King

King is describing a political reflex as old as crisis itself: when reality demands sobriety, the public mood tilts toward sedation. The line is built like a warning label. He starts with “Just when” to underline the perversity of timing - the moment that should sharpen judgment is precisely when judgment dulls. “Clearheaded” is doing moral work here; it’s not only about information, but about civic discipline. He’s framing clarity as an obligation, not a vibe.

The subtext is that escapism isn’t neutral. King calls it an “inclination,” a word that sounds mild until it’s paired with “dangerous tendencies.” That pairing is deliberate: he’s naming how democracies don’t usually collapse from a single coup-like event, but from a thousand smaller surrenders - wishful thinking, scapegoating, easy promises, the temptation to outsource responsibility to strongmen or slogans. “Merely as an escape” is the sting. He’s puncturing the self-excuse that these moves are pragmatic or necessary; often they’re just emotional flight dressed up as policy.

As a politician, King isn’t speaking from a philosopher’s tower. He’s signaling how governance breaks down when leaders and citizens treat hard facts as optional - a mindset common in wartime, economic downturns, and social upheaval. The sentence is long, almost breathless, mimicking the pressure of events while insisting on restraint. Its intent is preventative: normalize the idea that the most seductive politics in anxious times are often the most hazardous.