22. Januar 2011
Francis Bacon, geboren vor 450 Jahren am 22. Januar 1561
„The speech of Themistocles the Athenian, which was haughty and arrogant, in taking so much to himself, had been a grave and wise observation and censure, applied at large to others.
Desired at a feast to touch a lute, he said, he could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small town, a great city. These words (holpen a little with a metaphor) may express two differing abilities, in those that deal in business of estate.
For if a true survey be taken of counsellors and statesmen, there may be found (though rarely) those which can make a small state great, and yet cannot fiddle; as on the other side, there will be found a great many, that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so far from being able to make a small state great, as their gift lieth the other way; to bring a great and flourishing estate, to ruin and decay.
And certainly whose degenerate arts and shifts, whereby many counsellors and governors gain both favor with their masters, and estimation with the vulgar, deserve no better name than fiddling; being things rather pleasing for the time, and graceful to themselves only, than tending to the weal and advancement of the state which they serve.
There are also (no doubt) counsellors and governors which may be held sufficient (negotiis pares), able to manage affairs, and to keep them from precipices and manifest inconveniences; which nevertheless are far from the ability to raise and amplify an estate in power, means, and fortune.“
(Of True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates, 1612 und 1625)
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Wer Lust hat, kann im Geiste mal unser deutsches und europäisches Staatspersonal durchgehen. Wer könnte tatsächlich einen kleinen Staat groß machen? Wer ist immerhin negotiis par – den politischen Alltagsgeschäften gewachsen? Und wer ist nur ein fiddler?
Thorsten Kleinschmidt, 22. Januar 2011
Thaler
Adenauer hat ja wirklich einen kleinen Staat groß gemacht; das besetzte, fremdregierte Westdeutschland zu einem wichtigen Player auf der europäischen Bühne.
backenbart
Gut für Alltagsgeschäfte: Merkel, Barroso, de Maiziere, Trittin, Steinmeier
Fiddler: Wwesterwelle, Gabriel, Aigner, Rösler, Gysi...
Wobei: Bei den Fiddlern gibt es zwei Sorten: Die einen sind wirklich unfähig. Die anderen sind eigentlich fähig, nutzen ihr Können aber nur für ihre egoistischen Karriereziele. Und das sind die schlimmen.