On the competition of nations
When civilian leadership lacks high morals, it tends to be selfish and tends to interfere with military leadership. This leads to weakness and, ultimately, to self-destruction regardless of its military strength.
Greed is the lowest of motives. Greed degrades leadership.
A society with high morals uses its inner strength to obtain economic and political power.
A society with low morals uses its military strength to obtain economic and political power.
No society can obtain strength on economics alone. Social cohesion must be achieved by non-economic means.
From a presentation by dr Charles van der Hoog, Philosopher of Culture, February 27, 2012.
