Jonathan Jackson Quotes

Kings may be judges of the earth, but wise men are the judges of kings.

A state would be happy where philosophers were kings or kings were philosophers.

Our system does not know how to bring strength and intellect into the front rank of politics and government...

Your connections might get you in the door, but it won't keep you there. And if you haven't prepared, you'll suck.

Merit should count more than academic background.

There is often, in the affairs of government, more efficiency and wisdom in non-action than in action.

The only way you get to be a “wise man” is to outlive your contemporaries and keep your mouth shut.

Talents & science are sufficient motives with me in appointments to which they are fitted.

Cities are governed, so are houses too, by wisdom, not by harp-playing and whistling.

Government is not the enemy. Government is simply a tool that can be used wisely or unwisely.

I shall make honesty, capacity, and fidelity indispensable prerequisites to the bestowal of office, and the absence of either of these qualities shall be deemed sufficient cause for removal.

Mankind will never see an end of trouble until... lovers of wisdom come to hold political power, or the holders of power... become lovers of wisdom

Pubic business must be done. It will be done one way or another. If wise men refuse it, others will not. If honest men refuse it, others will not.

You don’t want an appointee who will agree with you all the time. If two smart people are both thinking they are going to disagree with each other sooner or later. You want an appointee who may not always agree with you but one of whom you can always be proud.

It is, indeed, a vice of rulers that men who have exceptional ability and worth are offensive to them

The wise man who has charge of governing the empire should know the cause of disorder before he can put it in order. Unless he knows its cause, he cannot regulate it.

I have told you already a hundred times: You are not a King and yet you have no idea how to be one …. All your difficulties and anxieties come from your own bad administration and because you have never paid any attention to my advice. I shall always regret having given you a kingdom where you have merely profited from the reputation of my name

If I have the choice between experience and talent, I'm taking talent every time.

It's one thing to talk about lack of diversity and lack of representation. But that doesn't matter if you're not good at what you're supposed to be doing.

It is not about gender, it is about experience, leadership, and vision.

I think age is just a number - if you are young enough, you are old enough - as long as you are good enough, age shouldn't come into it.

When a player deserves to play, with me, he'll play.

If you're going to put me in the booth, make sure it's because I'm good enough to be there.

Age is never a factor if talent is there.

If you are good enough, you should play.