If you haven’t read Plutarch’s Moralia (customs and mores) I recommend it to you. It is plainly but intelligently written and easy to read – as well as beguiling. Plutarch (c.46–c.120) was a Greek biographer and philosopher belonging to the Equestrian order of Rome. Plutarch’s antiquity does not compromise his writing. Astonishingly the same things mattered then as do now. Moralia contains unique and unexpected topics, among them talkativeness, curiosity, shyness, anger, how one can praise oneself without exciting envy, against borrowing money and how one may discern a flatterer from a friend (plus many more of equal relevance and amusement).
The chapter I found especially noteworthy was Chapter XVII On Shyness.
It (shyness) is a bad guardian of youth, as Brutus said he didn’t think that person had spent his youth well who had not learnt how to say No.
Excerpt From
Plutarch, “Plutarch’s Morals”
How’s that for a succinct apothegm? “The person had not spent his youth well who had not learnt to say No.” Learning how to to say No is a subject not without its currency nor without its application to youth and adults alike. I suspect – given the pliable nature of youth – that the urgency to say No is more critical for youth than adults; but the distinction is fine at best. Adults cultivate poor behaviour often for specious reason, even calculated obfuscation for example to excuse obsequiousness for ulterior motives.
Nonetheless – that is, in spite of the purity and authenticity of the moral standard – one must be cautious not to dispute the conduct of others for failing to say No. Clearly the failure (among adults) is often promoted by the vulgar (but forgivable) yearning to preserve one’s employment. This is most apparent within the political context because it is so public. The path to political success is not for the pusillanimous. Politicians, I suspect, routinely learn to insulate themselves from accusations of misconduct simply to maintain their status. Given the American history of assassination of its political leaders it is hardly a forum into which most would willingly descend.
But touting moral paradigm is not in my opinion an expedient to change; that is, criticism is a self-defeating tactic, one which distances the members opposite rather than encouraging involvement. Far better to offer avenues for choice of alteration. Given the political models of Conservatism vs Liberalism almost worldwide – and especially closer to home in both Canada and the United States of America – we have long ago surpassed the value of saying No. Instead we must learn to embrace one another, not with servile compliance but with a view to the greater benefit of cooperation than that of victory. In that respect the choice is uncompromising.
The politicians and parliamentarians I have known personally – Jeffrey L. de Witt King, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, David B. Daubney, Derek V. Lee, Senator Dennis G. Patterson, Senator George J. McIlraith PC QC and Audrey E. O’Brien – are all clever and a credit to society. With few exceptions politicians are to be applauded for their efforts.
Audrey Elizabeth O’Brien CM was the 12th, and first female, Clerk of the House of Commons of Canada. She was appointed in 2005. The Clerk of the House is a Governor-in-Council nomination and is the chief executive of the administration of the House of Commons. In December 2015, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for her contributions in the administration of the House of Commons.
I have a similar approbation for the wit and perspicacity of many others whom I have known. Just because we may not agree with something another says is no basis for dismissing them from the conversation. So when it comes to saying No we must refine the application.