HOW TO BE A GOOD LEADER

The principles explained here are addressed to Menemachus, a young man from Sardis in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), who was just beginning his political career. As we read both in this essay and in Should an Old Man Engage in Politics?, Plutarch firmly believed that the best way to learn about the political life was to serve as an apprentice to an experienced leader who was willing to guide newcomers and build up their confidence, while also shielding them from hard realities until they could stand on their own. Menemachus lacked the time for this sort of on-the-job training, however, and so Plutarch agreed to write this essay as a textbook of political leadership. As a substitute for observing actual leaders in action, Plutarch here offers numerous examples, both positive and negative, from the Greek and Roman past. All of his examples come from a time when Greek cities were independent states and the Roman Republic had not yet become an empire. Nonetheless, by emphasizing general principles, Plutarch attempts to make the experiences of leaders from the past relevant to the politicians of his own day. Topics that he discusses include personal integrity, the importance of friendships, how best to persuade one’s fellow citizens, how not to provoke one’s superiors, and the dangers inherent in rivalry and envy. The essay’s overarching lesson is that the successful management of public affairs demands respect for the state’s institutions, cooperation among politicians, and the subordination of one’s own ambition to the welfare of the state.

Plutarch had much to say and many examples from which to choose. I have selected passages from the full essay that connect to themes in the other essays of this collection and that are most relevant to political life in a modern democracy or large organization. I have organized the various topics under separate headings to make them easier to identify, though the headings do not appear in the original Greek.