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About this quote

What does it mean?
Incompetence in private affairs can paradoxically qualify one for public leadership.
In plain terms
People who fail managing personal matters often succeed leading public ones.
What can you take from it?
Private failure can signal public appeal.

Where it applies

  • political campaigns
  • corporate governance
  • public speaking

Putting it to work

  • vet leaders carefully
  • look beyond resume
  • assess character

Questions to consider

  • Does private success predict public success?
  • Why do failures sometimes gain power?

Another view

It generalizes too broadly about leadership qualifications.

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  3. Those who see their lives as spoiled and wasted crave equality and fraternity more than they do freedom. If they clamor for freedom, it is but freedom to estab…

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