Antipater, in a letter written upon the death of…
““Antipater, in a letter written upon the death of Aristotle, the philosopher, observes, "Amongst his other gifts he had that of persuasiveness"; and the absence of this in the character of Marcius made all his great actions and noble qualities unacceptable to those whom they benifited: pride, and self-will, the consort, as Plato calls it, of solitude, made him insufferable. With the skill which Alcibiades, on the contrary, possessed to treat every one in the way most agreeable to him, we cannot wonder that all his successes were attended with the most exuberant favour and honour; his very errors, at time, being accompanied by something of grace and felicity. And so in spite of great and frequent hurt that he had done the city, he was repeatedly appointed to office and command; while Coriolanus stood in vain for a place which his great services had made his due. The one, in spite of the harm he occasioned, could not make himself hated, nor the other, with all the admiration he attracted, succeed in being beloved by his countrymen.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Charisma and persuasive skill can outweigh moral flaws, allowing individuals to retain public favor despite harmful actions.
In simple terms: Charm can mask wrongdoing, keeping people liked.
Key Takeaway
Recognize charisma's influence on judgment.
Themes
politics
leadership
ethics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- leadership roles
- public speaking
Key Concepts
persuasion
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we assess character beyond charm?
- What safeguards prevent charisma from obscuring faults?
A Different Perspective
Charismatic leaders may still cause damage despite popularity.