"No one ever teaches well who wants to teach, or governs well who wants to govern"
- Plato
About this Quote
This quote by Plato recommends that those who are successful in mentor and governing are those who do refrain from doing it for personal gain. Plato is suggesting that those who succeed in mentor and governing are those who do it out of an inner voice and obligation, rather than for individual gain. He is indicating that those who are motivated by individual gain are not most likely to be effective in teaching and governing. This is due to the fact that they are most likely to be concentrated on their own interests, rather than the interests of those they are teaching or governing. Plato is recommending that those who achieve success in mentor and governing are those who are inspired by a sense of obligation and duty, instead of individual gain. This is due to the fact that they are more likely to be concentrated on the needs of those they are teaching or governing, instead of their own interests.
"One has children in the expectation of dying before them. In fact, you want to make damn sure you die before them, just as you plant a tree or build a house knowing, hoping that it will outlive you. That's how the human species has done as well as it has"
"Well, I think any time you delve into this sort of religion, politics, as you well know, you're going to, you know, touch a few nerves. I wasn't - now - and this is the honest truth"