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About this quote

What does it mean?
Public service is seen as the peak career goal for young men, representing an honorable adventure.
In plain terms
Politics is the most respected career choice for ambitious young men.
What can you take from it?
Public service is viewed as a noble ambition.

Where it applies

  • career choice
  • political engagement
  • youth ambition

Putting it to work

  • pursue public service
  • value honor in work

Questions to consider

  • Is public life truly the best ambition?
  • What makes a career honorable?

Another view

It reflects a specific time and gender perspective.

More from John Buchan

  1. We can pay our debts to the past by putting the future in debt to ourselves.

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  2. Time, they say, must the best of us capture, And travel and battle and gems and gold No more can kindle the ancient rapture, For even the youngest of hearts gr…

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  3. The true definition of a snob is one who craves for what separates men rather than for what unites them.

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