quote · Legacy record
A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?
A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?
Approximate author period: c. 1950 AD · modern
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- Author or tradition
- Barbara W. Tuchman
Attribution: attributed - Country attributed
- Not established
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- Approximate author period: c. 1950 AD · modern
Approximate author-period anchor from life dates 1912 to 1989; Wikidata Q59112, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59112 (accessed 2026-10-08). Not a quotation composition date.
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Supplied reference C; CSV row 145779; supplied attribution, independently unverified
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