Love And Politics
Politicians’ Rhetoric
Politicians’ love of public causes is often rhetorical.
Even when such a love exists, it is mingled with the
love of the exhibition and the love of empty words and
false promises – a very ancient fact, intimately
connected to the first steps of democracy.
In fact, the first steps of Greek and Roman democracy
were highly rhetoric, with citizens - mostly illiterates
- using gaudy speeches bought from the professionals of
rhetoric (namely, the so called sophists, a mixture of
philosophers and word cheaters).
History records some of these characters, such as
Gorgias of Leontini, a distinguished sophist who made
his wealth creating speeches and selling the texts to
those who wanted to plead in court or in political
assemblies. There are documents describing Gorgias
wearing purple tunics, skipping on stages, surrounded by
stunned audiences, exhibiting his oratorical gifts and
his gold wristbands.
When we compare characters such as Gorgias with what is
going on today, it is possible to conclude that there
has been progress. Today’s politicians are much more
discreet. Today, nobody would dare to dress or use the
language of Gorgias, or to write a Praise of the Fly,
as Luciano did.
And yet there is another standpoint: present politicians
have just sophisticated the resources of their
predecessors. They haven’t discarded their old love of
lying and rhetoric. In other words: it’s a pity they
haven’t kept their old vices and gaudy speeches: it
would be much easier to denounce them.
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Quotations
Ways of Seeing Politics
Government even in its best state, is but a
necessary evil.
Thomas Paine, 1737-1809, English Politician
All arts have produced wonders; just the art of
governing has only produced monsters.
Saint-Just, 1767-1794, French politician in Edgar
Morin As Grandes Questões Do Nosso Tempo
When madness ascends to power, who in the kingdom
escapes from infection?
J. M. Coetzee, South-african writer, A Idade do
Ferro
Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those
who possess it.
William Pitt, 1708-1778, British politician, Speech
House of Commons 14/1/1766
There is no act of treachery or meanness of which a
political party is not capable; for in politics
there is no honour.
Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, English politician,
Vivian Grey
A government big enough to give us everything we
want is a government big enough to take from us
everything we have.
Gerald Ford, American politician, cited in Time,
8/11/1976
It’s in politics that prevails the more simplistic
ideas, the less reliable, the more brutal, the more
deadly.
Politics deals with what there are of more complex
and precious: life, destiny, the freedom of the
individual and society, and, therefore, of mankind.
E. Morin, French philosopher and sociologist, As
Grandes Questões Do Nosso Tempo
The world is disgracefully managed, and one hardly know
to whom to complain.
Ronald Firbank, 1886-1926, British writer, Vanglory
Quotations
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