--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To me,' said Mr. Herbert, 'it seems…" description: "\"“To me,' said Mr. Herbert, 'it seems rather that the only hope for the present age lies in the possibility of some individual wiser than the rest getti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/william-hurrell-mallock-32719_wisdom_to-me-said-mr-herbert-it-seems-rather-th_1319932.jpg" --- # To me,' said Mr. Herbert, 'it seems rather that the only… ![“To me,' said Mr. Herbert, 'it seems rather that the only hope for the present age lies in the possibility of some individual wiser than the rest getting the necessary power, and in the most arbitrary way possible putting a stop to this progress--utterly stamping out and obliterating every general…” quote by William Hurrell Mallock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/william-hurrell-mallock-32719_wisdom_to-me-said-mr-herbert-it-seems-rather-th_1319932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/william-hurrell-mallock-32719_wisdom_to-me-said-mr-herbert-it-seems-rather-th_1319932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/william-hurrell-mallock-32719_wisdom_to-me-said-mr-herbert-it-seems-rather-th_1319932.jpg) > ““To me,' said Mr. Herbert, 'it seems rather that the only hope for the present age lies in the possibility of some individual wiser than the rest getting the necessary power, and in the most arbitrary way possible putting a stop to this progress--utterly stamping out and obliterating every general tendency peculiar to our own time.”” [William Hurrell Mallock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurrell-mallock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only a wiser individual can halt detrimental societal trends, but imposing power arbitrarily is problematic. **In simple terms:** A wise person might stop harmful progress, but power must be used responsibly. Key Takeaway Seek responsible leadership, not arbitrary control. Themes leadership power societal change responsibility ethics Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political reform - activism - community organizing - policy making Key Concepts philosophy political theory authority Questions to Reflect On - Who decides who is wiser? - How can power be checked? A Different Perspective Power concentrated in one can be abused and suppress beneficial change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/herbert/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [If you're a friend or a relative of George Herbert Walker Bush, Prez 41, or George W. 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The imagination has its atmosphere and its sunlight as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurrell-mallock/and-with-distance-in-time-it-is-the-same-as-with-distance-in-place/) [William Hurrell Mallock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurrell-mallock/) > [“Literature, I have always thought, is in most places and companies a singularly dull and uninteresting thing to talk about, but one may, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurrell-mallock/literature-i-have-always-thought-is-in-most-places-and-companies-a/) [William Hurrell Mallock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurrell-mallock/) [Explore all 15 William Hurrell Mallock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurrell-mallock/) ## More Herbert quotes > [If you're a friend or a relative of George Herbert Walker Bush, Prez 41, or George W. 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