He, as Foreign Minister, was swanning around the United States of America with Shirley MacLaine or trying to crash one of Ted Kennedy's parties...and he was trying to play statesman...while he swanned around, and then he made a cowardly attack upon the former Prime Minister before slinking back into his cabinet.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Keating mocks a political figure for behaving frivolously abroad while pretending to be serious and attacking colleagues secretly.
- In plain terms
- He acted carelessly while pretending to be important.
- What can you take from it?
- Leadership requires consistent serious behavior and transparent actions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What constitutes proper conduct for leaders?
- How do you judge hypocrisy?
Another view
It assumes all socializing abroad is unprofessional.
More from Paul Keating
It is the first time the Honourable Gentleman has got out from under the sunlamp.
Permalink to quote #42 You've been in the dye pot again, Andrew.
Permalink to quote #44 We're not interested in the views of painted, perfumed gigolos.
Permalink to quote #41
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