Assassination Quote by Barbara Tuchman
“Rome had Caesar, a man of remarkable governing talents, although it must be said that a ruler who arouses opponents to resort to assassination is probably not as smart as he ought to be.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, 1954
A ruler who provokes enemies to consider assassination shows poor judgment despite other talents.
In simple terms: Provoking enemies is a sign of weak leadership.
Key Takeaway
Avoid actions that incite lethal retaliation.
Themes
leadership
politics
history
Mood
cautionary
historical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- policy making
- conflict resolution
- leadership training
Key Concepts
Power dynamics
ethical governance
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can leaders take to reduce hostility?
- How does fear of assassination affect governance?
A Different Perspective
Even skilled leaders can misjudge threats.
![“The clergy [in the 14th century] on the whole were probably no more lecherous or greedy or untrustworthy than other men, but because they were supposed to be better or nearer to God than other men, their failings attracted more attention.” quote by Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/558/barbara-tuchman-3945_attention_the-clergy-in-the-14th-century-on-the-wh_159681.jpg)
![“We have the ability to take him [President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job…” quote by Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/194/pat-robertson-1972_ability_we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-presiden_23256.jpg)
![“We know from Talmadge Hayer, one of the men who carried out the assassination, who was shot by Ruben X as he tried to flee the Audubon after shooting Malcolm X, we know that Hayer confessed years later to his Imam in prison that there had been a walk-through a week prior to February 21st [1965] at…” quote by Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/645/manning-marable-9023_assassination_we-know-from-talmadge-hayer-one-of-the-m_101701.jpg)
