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About this quote

What does it mean?
Political authority is entrusted to leaders by the people and must be handled responsibly.
In plain terms
Leaders hold power only because people trust them with it.
What can you take from it?
Power comes with responsibility to serve the public.

Where it applies

  • voting
  • accountability
  • public service

Putting it to work

  • checking leadership
  • civic engagement

Questions to consider

  • Who holds leaders accountable?
  • What happens when trust is broken?

Another view

Trusting leaders does not guarantee they will act in public interest.

More from Charles James Fox

  1. How much the greatest event it is that ever happened in the world! and how much the best!

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  2. He that is conscious of guilt cannot bear the innocence of others: So they will try to reduce all others to their own level.

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  3. The worst of revolutions is a restoration.

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