How to be a Leader

Plutarch (46-119 CE) was famous in his time for his work on parallel Greek and Roman lives and his essays entitled Moralia, from which the three featured in this book are taken: an essay to an uneducated leader, how to be a good leader and the question of whether an old man (50+!) should engage in politics. A political leader is one who puts city before self, a person of character and integrity who can be trusted - no need to mention any names in our current situation. Good leaders are well grounded in judgement and reason rather than the pursuit of personal gain, although this is recognised as a likely quality of an ambitious younger person. There is plenty of sound advice with illustrations from history, including from Pericles. The importance of engagement, compromise and cooperation is emphasised, along with the need to treat others with respect. Older people are indeed encouraged to enter politics with their acquired wisdom and lesser dependence on the pleasures of the body. Such experienced people can act as mentors and are less likely to feel envy than striving younger men. Justice, self-control and practical wisdom are the fruits of reflective experience and countries should take advantage of these qualities: 'for advanced age does not deprive us of the ability to serve so much as it augments our ability to lead and practise politics.' (p. 329) In terms of character and virtue, we have much to learn from the examples taken from classical times.