Methought it lessened my esteem of a king, that he should not be able to command the rain.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Pepys reflects that a king's inability to control natural events like rain diminishes his perceived power.
- In plain terms
- A ruler who cannot control nature seems less impressive.
- What can you take from it?
- Human authority is limited by forces beyond our control.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What limits should leaders acknowledge?
- How do we measure power?
Another view
Modern leadership is not expected to control weather, so this view is dated.
More from Samuel Pepys
A good honest and painfull sermon.
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