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But if we may be allowed to paraphrase the idea of good by the

words 'intelligent principle of law and order in the universe,

embracing equally man and nature,' we begin to find a

meeting-point between him and ourselves.

The question whether the ruler or statesman should be a

philosopher is one that has not lost interest in modern times. In

most countries of Europe and Asia there has been some one in the

course of ages who has truly united the power of command with the

power of thought and reflection, as there have been also many

false combinations of these qualities. Some kind of speculative

power is necessary both in practical and political life; like the

rhetorician in the Phaedrus, men require to have a conception of

the varieties of human character, and to be raised on great

occasions above the commonplaces of ordinary life. Yet the idea

of the philosopher-statesman has never been popular with the mass

of mankind; partly because he cannot take the world into his

confidence or make them understand the motives from which he

acts; and also because they are jealous of a power which they do

not understand.