I am trying to do two things: dare to be a radical and not a fool, which is a matter of no small difficulty.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Garfield admits that being a radical without being foolish is a difficult balance.
- In plain terms
- It is hard to be radical without acting foolishly.
- What can you take from it?
- Bold ideas need careful execution to avoid looking silly.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does radicalism become foolish?
- How do you take risks wisely?
Another view
It assumes radicalism is inherently risky, which some may dispute.
More from James A. Garfield
History is philosophy teaching by example, and also warning; its two eyes are geography and chronology.
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