I don't object to Gladstone always having the ace of trumps up his sleeve, but merely to his belief that the Almighty put it there.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker accepts Gladstone's political advantage but rejects his claim that it is divinely ordained.
- In plain terms
- It is fine to have an edge, but wrong to say God gave it to you.
- What can you take from it?
- Do not attribute personal success to divine will.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should leaders claim divine favor?
- How do we separate luck from merit?
Another view
The quote assumes Gladstone made this claim without providing evidence.
More from William Ewart Gladstone
If you were to put that man on a moor with nothing on but his shirt, he would become whatever he pleased.
Permalink to quote #48 The greatest Chancellor of all time.
Permalink to quote #50 He was the first Chancellor of the Exchequer who ever made the Budget interesting. 'He talked shop,' it was said, 'like a tenth muse.' He could apply all the r…
Permalink to quote #47
Related quotes
For me, Comrade Stalin is a God.
Konstantin RokossovskyKonstantin Rokossovsky quote #6 We had no shape Because he never took sides; And no sides Because he never allowed them to take shape.
William Lyon Mackenzie KingWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King quote #8 A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-f…
AristotleAristotle quote #30