Victor Davis Hanson // National Review
The ancient Greeks believed that true leadership in a crisis came down to what they called pronoia — the Greek word for “strategic foresight.”
Some statesmen, such as Pericles and Themistocles, had it. Most others, such as the often brilliant and charismatic but impulsive Alcibiades, usually did not.
“Foresight” in crisis means sizing up a nation’s assets and debits, then maximizing advantages and minimizing liabilities. The leader with foresight, especially in times of irrational despair, then charts a rational pathway to victory.
Such crisis leaders do not fall into panic and depression when the media shout “Catastrophe!” Nor do they preen when the same chorus screams “Genius!” in times of success.
The English poet Rudyard Kipling would have defined such a gift as: “If you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,” or “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same.”
Discussion (5)
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Dr. Hanson,? I am not crazy, I am a Realist. I am asking for your thoughts on the recent events. Is "GOD" Pissed based on your writing of past epidemics? Your knowledge of past endemics is world renown? I know you get many request for assistance in the field of publishing, however I have an unknown reason to write the book "GOD" is really "Pissed"! Motivation - not money - I am a retired gov't employee, live paycheck to paycheck, but I am alright with that, I want to just let the idiot Millennium and Z generations that "GOD" is watching and "PISSED".
he's the oldest President the USA has had, compared to the last few in recent history. I'am not American, but my younger sister lives there at times, so do take an interest like most. He looks presentable, emotionally mature compared to the earlier ones, during their terms at the helm, seems like a person trying to undo a lot of damage caused by his predessors from the past. From where I sit, he could'nt have done better for his first term, considering..
Dearest Angry Writer, Unfortunately, the 'strategic foresight' ship sailed for Trump a long time ago. With respect to handling our current crisis that's been evident since January when he praised the Chinese response and then squandered time dismissing the seriousness of the threat, using it instead to maintain the droning beat of the culture war drums. The poor sap only knows tactics--divisive ones. Andrew Sullivan will help you get up to speed: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/amp/2020/03/andrew-sullivan-america-is-trapped-in-trumps-blind-spot.html The bright side to all this is that individuals, businesses, universities, local & state gov's took it seriously long before Trump did and began to act on their own. They/We will get through this despite his follies and shortsightedness. Ever Lovingly, Angry Reader #341 Enoch Lambert
At the very least the curve has to flatten and show a prediction for conclusion before we can take a foot off the gas. We have a bill that is 2 trillion. Do more if at anytime it looks peremptorily needed. We can afford to wait that time out, even if several months 'past Easter'. Then and only then can we risk opening up some. Otherwise, if the virus revs back up we are sunk both healthwise and economy. If you agree with this, please have as many people as possible who are genuine conservatives lobby Trump accordingly. Trump is no Churchill, FDR,or Lincoln plus this is a much different war.
You misspelled paranoia...