"Government is not a science" - Nick Clegg today.

[Lateralthinking1]

"The Science of Government it is my Duty to study, more than all other Sciences: the Art of Legislation and Administration and Negotiation, ought to take Place, indeed to exclude in a manner all other Arts.

I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine".

John Adams

[greenilex]

Except that he didn't mention his daughters' right to study anything at all, that's still the right order. But we (foolishly?) trust the state to preserve our rights to study rather than leaving it to the efforts of our progenitors, who are normally dismissed as hopelessly behind the times.

I must say, I do hope my grandchildren have the right to study music if they so desire.

[Flosshilde]

John Adams' comment reflects the idea that businesses go from creation to ruin in 3 generations - the first takes the risks & sets it up, the middle is brought up in the business & manages it, the third is educated & thinks he's too good to dirty his hands with commerce & spends the profits on enjoying himself. (The girls are given a decent settlement & married off - preferably to impoverished minor aristocracy)

[vinteuil]

John Adams' comment reflects the idea that businesses go from creation to ruin in 3 generations - the first takes the risks & sets it up, the middle is brought up in the business & manages it, the third is educated & thinks he's too good to dirty his hands with commerce & spends the profits on enjoying himself. (The girls are given a decent settlement & married off - preferably to impoverished minor aristocracy)

Nicely put. The classic exposition of this is, I suppose, Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks ...