--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may be assumed as an axiom that…" description: "\"It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with all of political fol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/john-george-nicolay-34087_blinded_it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-provi_652093.jpg" --- # It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never… ![“It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with all of political folly.” quote by John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/john-george-nicolay-34087_blinded_it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-provi_652093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/john-george-nicolay-34087_blinded_it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-provi_652093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/john-george-nicolay-34087_blinded_it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-provi_652093.jpg) > “It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with all of political folly.” [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that no political party possesses complete wisdom or is entirely blinded by folly; all have a mix of insight and error. **In simple terms:** No party is perfectly wise or foolish; all have strengths and flaws. Key Takeaway Expect both good and bad in politics. Themes politics wisdom folly leadership Mood critical thoughtful Type political analytical When to use this quote - voting - policy debate - government oversight - civic education Key Concepts political theory human fallibility Questions to Reflect On - How do we hold parties accountable for errors? - What mechanisms improve collective political wisdom? A Different Perspective It may underplay systemic issues that cause repeated mistakes beyond individual party flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-parties/) [Political party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-party/) [Political wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-wisdom/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [... but the greatest wisdom is blinded by the glare of vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-the-greatest-wisdom-is-blinded-by-the-glare-of-vanity/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“But the greatest wisdom could be blinded by the glare of vanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-the-greatest-wisdom-could-be-blinded-by-the-glare-of-vanity/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Chief among the forces affecting political folly is lust for power, named by Tacitus as "the most flagrant of all passions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/chief-among-the-forces-affecting-political-folly-is-lust-for-power-2/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [Chief among the forces affecting political folly is lust for power, named by Tacitus as "the most flagrant of all the passions." Because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/chief-among-the-forces-affecting-political-folly-is-lust-for-power/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [“By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these cross-country trips, Grace was affirming the political wisdom that he derived from his background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-jimmy-on-these-cross-country/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [Will not perhaps the temporal power of Islam return and with it the menace of an armed Mohammedan world, which will shake off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/will-not-perhaps-the-temporal-power-of-islam-return-and-with-it-the/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [“Justice, humanity, or political wisdom, are qualities they are too little acquainted with in themselves, to appreciate them in others. Valor will acquire their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/justice-humanity-or-political-wisdom-are-qualities-they-are-too/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [I believe we are going to have to prepare ourselves for the difficult and patient task of outgrowing rigid and intransigent nationalism, and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-believe-we-are-going-to-have-to-prepare-ourselves-for-the-difficult/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Man, says Protagoras, now has the wisdom necessary for life ... but he does not have political wisdom. At this point, people are living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ludwig-landsberg/man-says-protagoras-now-has-the-wisdom-necessary-for-life-but-he-does/) Paul Ludwig Landsberg > [It is my earnest hope that all parties across the political spectrum will bear Hong Kong's long-term interests in mind, apply their political wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/it-is-my-earnest-hope-that-all-parties-across-the-political-spectrum/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [Neither an enlightened philosophy, nor all the political wisdom of Rome, nor even the faith and virtue of the Christians availed against the incorrigible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/neither-an-enlightened-philosophy-nor-all-the-political-wisdom-of/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-heart-trembles-when-i-reflect-that-god-is-just/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If the first year of the Trump administration has made anything clear, it's that experience, knowledge, education and political wisdom matter tremendously. Governing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton-williams/if-the-first-year-of-the-trump-administration-has-made-anything-clear/) [Thomas Chatterton Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton-williams/) > [The beginning of political wisdom is the realization that despite everything you’ve always been taught, the government is not really on your side; indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/the-beginning-of-political-wisdom-is-the-realization-that-despite/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [In America we're seeing the emergence of Donald Trump, who's the anti-establishment candidate, if you will, who's bucking all the conventional political wisdom on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-bernardi/in-america-we-re-seeing-the-emergence-of-donald-trump-who-s-the-anti/) [Cory Bernardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-bernardi/) ## More by John George Nicolay > [Lincoln's removal from New Salem to Springfield and his entrance into a law partnership with Major John T. Stuart begin a distinctively new period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/lincoln-s-removal-from-new-salem-to-springfield-and-his-entrance-into/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln the obvious truth that in politics it does not suffice merely to nominate candidates. Something must also be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/nobody-understood-better-than-mr-lincoln-the-obvious-truth-that-in/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [The meetings of the legislature at Springfield then first brought together that splendid group of young men of genius whose phenomenal careers and distinguished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/the-meetings-of-the-legislature-at-springfield-then-first-brought/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [It is therefore not to be wondered at that Lincolns single term in the House of Representatives at Washington added practically nothing to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-is-therefore-not-to-be-wondered-at-that-lincolns-single-term-in/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [Very few men are fortunate enough to gain distinction during their first term in Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/very-few-men-are-fortunate-enough-to-gain-distinction-during-their/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [The function of the politician, therefore, is one of continuous watchfulness and activity, and he must have intimate knowledge of details if he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/the-function-of-the-politician-therefore-is-one-of-continuous/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [The death of Mrs. Lincoln was a serious loss to her husband and children. Abraham's sister Sarah was only eleven years old, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/the-death-of-mrs-lincoln-was-a-serious-loss-to-her-husband-and/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [While Lincoln thus became a lawyer, he did not cease to remain a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/while-lincoln-thus-became-a-lawyer-he-did-not-cease-to-remain-a/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [It is therefore not to be wondered at that Lincoln's single term in the House of Representatives at Washington added practically nothing to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-is-therefore-not-to-be-wondered-at-that-lincoln-s-single-term-in/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [In the early West, law and politics were parallel roads to usefulness as well as distinction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/in-the-early-west-law-and-politics-were-parallel-roads-to-usefulness/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [It turned out in the long run that Lincoln's credit and the popular confidence that supported it were as valuable both to his creditors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-turned-out-in-the-long-run-that-lincoln-s-credit-and-the-popular/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [Activity in politics also produces eager competition and sharp rivalry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/activity-in-politics-also-produces-eager-competition-and-sharp-rivalry/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [Lincoln's stature and strength, his intelligence and ambition - in short, all the elements which gave him popularity among men in New Salem, rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/lincoln-s-stature-and-strength-his-intelligence-and-ambition-in-short/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) [Explore all 14 John George Nicolay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) ## More Blinded quotes > [Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-al-din-attar/were-you-indeed-not-blinded-by-the-curse-of-self-exile-that-still/) [Farid al-Din Attar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid-al-din-attar/) > [I guess I was so blinded by who I wanted you to be, that I didn't see who you really were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/i-guess-i-was-so-blinded-by-who-i-wanted-you-to-be-that-i-didn-t-see/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [“Even If I Don’t See it Again Even if I don’t see it again.–nor ever feel it I know it is–and that if once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/even-if-i-don-t-see-it-again-even-if-i-don-t-see-it-again-nor-ever/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [“Don't give me truth, just give me gossip And skeletons from people's closets, I wanna be normal And millions buy it, I am blinded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/don-t-give-me-truth-just-give-me-gossip-and-skeletons-from-people-s/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses because we were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/do-not-allow-people-to-dim-your-shine-because-they-are-blinded-tell/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [In Holland I have seen well-meaning, principled people blinded by multiculturalism, overwhelmed by the imperative to be sensitive and respectful of immigrant culture, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/in-holland-i-have-seen-well-meaning-principled-people-blinded-by/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [When you're so down for someone, you're completely blinded to the fact that they've been no good to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-re-so-down-for-someone-you-re-completely-blinded-to-the-fact/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most devastating effect of sin is that by it, we are blinded to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-most-devastating-effect-of-sin-is-that-by-it-we-are-blinded-to-it/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The blind leading the blind are those which think they can see into the heart of another. But are blinded by love and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-blind-leading-the-blind-are-those-which-think-they-can-see-into/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [“Never stand in the way of letting God use people’s actions, in order to solve a greater issue in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/never-stand-in-the-way-of-letting-god-use-people-s-actions-in-order/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“If the sun shone for itself, it would be blinded by its own light; if a river flowed for itself, it would be drowned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-the-sun-shone-for-itself-it-would-be-blinded-by-its-own-light-if-a/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [There are plenty of times we need fierce compassion, fierce love. Just like when a child does something that is very harmful and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-coleman/there-are-plenty-of-times-we-need-fierce-compassion-fierce-love-just/) [Mark Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-coleman/) > [I wear a hat on stage so that people won't be blinded by the reflection from my head. Also, if I don't wear a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-wear-a-hat-on-stage-so-that-people-won-t-be-blinded-by-the/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind is closed, the leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/and-when-the-drums-of-war-have-reached-a-fever-pitch-and-the-blood/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [Most men are blinded by the words Bad Bitches and end up settling for less!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surgeo-bell/most-men-are-blinded-by-the-words-bad-bitches-and-end-up-settling-for/) [Surgeo Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surgeo-bell/) Browse all 314 Blinded quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with all of political folly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John George Nicolay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blinded" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/john-george-nicolay-34087_blinded_it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-provi_652093.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/john-george-nicolay-34087_blinded_it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-provi_652093.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/john-george-nicolay-34087_blinded_it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-provi_652093.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political…” — John George Nicolay", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John George Nicolay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It may be assumed as an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```