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About this quote

What does it mean?
Disraeli suggests that democratic systems have lowered the standard of leadership from statesmen to mere politicians.
In plain terms
Democracy has lowered the quality of leaders.
What can you take from it?
Critique of modern political leadership quality.

Where it applies

  • political commentary
  • elections
  • reform debates

Putting it to work

  • evaluate leaders
  • support quality
  • critique systems

Questions to consider

  • What distinguishes a statesman from a politician?
  • Has democracy changed the nature of leadership?

Another view

Politicians and statesmen are not mutually exclusive categories in all contexts.

More from Benjamin Disraeli

  1. London is a roost for every bird.

    Permalink to quote #160
  2. The pursuit of science leads only to the insoluble.

    Permalink to quote #162
  3. London is a modern Babylon.

    Permalink to quote #159

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