No deliberation made by a single person will be…
“No deliberation made by a single person will be successful; the nature of the work which a sovereign has to do is to be inferred from the consideration of both the visible and invisible causes. The clearance of doubts as to whatever is susceptible of two opinions, and the inference of the whole when only a part is seen is possible of decision only by ministers. Hence the king shall sit at deliberation with persons of wide intellect.”
About This Quote
Source Ancient Text: Arthashastra, 4th century BCE
Effective governance requires collective deliberation, considering visible and hidden factors, rather than relying on a single ruler's judgment.
In simple terms: Leaders should consult many wise people to see the whole picture.
Key Takeaway
Seek diverse counsel before deciding.
Themes
leadership
deliberation
wisdom
visibility
invisibility
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- council meetings
- policy drafting
- crisis response
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
political theory
decision making
collective intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- Who are the truly wise advisors?
- How balance speed and thoroughness?
A Different Perspective
The advice assumes all advisors are unbiased and may slow urgent decisions.