Few Englishmen had a smaller endowment of practical ability; few, on the other hand, delighted as he did in speculative system, or could grasp and exhibit in such lucid entirety hypothetical laws. Much as he talked of science, he was lacking in several essentials of the scientific mind; he had neither patience to collect and observe facts, nor conscientiousness in reasoning upon them; prejudice directed his every thought, and egoism pervaded all his conclusions. Excelling in speciousness, it was natural that he should think success as a politician within his easy reach; possessed by a plausible theory of government, he readily conceived himself on the heights of statesmanship, ruling the nation for its behoof.
George Gissing - Our Friend the Charlatan (1901)
It's an interesting passage this one. I couldn't read it without thinking of various political figures who fit the description rather well. David Cameron for example, but there must be many others.
4 comments:
Yes, Cameron came to me as I was reading it, but on reflection he lacked the speculative aspect. So maybe even some pathetic old ideologue like John McDonnell.
Cameron is a good suggestion. Not Blair - he's too dim to be a successful charlatan - just a common little scoundrel.
Oh yes indeed - Cameron.
Sam - McDonnell certainly fits, but many do, even if not perfectly. Nick Clegg occurred to me too - probably by association with Cameron.
dearieme - I suspect he was guided by his wife and without the guidance would not have climbed so high. Glib but not much else.
Tammly - and Nick Clegg was another who crossed my mind.
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