Art Quote by Sharon Kay Penman
““The art of governing, Dickon, is that of making use of talent wherever you do find it. Trust is too rare an attribute to make it your prime prerequisite for holding office. If I relied only upon those I truly do trust, we'd have a council of empty chairs!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Heirs of Squire Harry, 1995
Effective leadership relies on leveraging talent wherever it exists, rather than insisting on personal trust, which can leave positions vacant.
In simple terms: Use talent, not just trust, to fill roles.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize competence over personal affinity.
Themes
leadership
trust
talent
politics
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
political
advisory
When to use this quote
- Hiring staff
- building a team
- political appointments
- project collaborations
Key Concepts
Meritocracy
pragmatism
delegation
Questions to Reflect On
- What qualities matter most when selecting a team?
- How can you balance trust with competence?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on trust can breed nepotism.
![“The art of governing [focusing] the passions is more useful, and more important, than many things in the search and pursuit of which we spend our days. Without this art, riches and health, and skill and knowledge, will give us little satisfaction; and whatsoever else we be, we can be neither…” quote by John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ee/john-jortin-60461_art_the-art-of-governing-focusing-the-passio_1303042.jpg)
