Doer Is A Good Word

Peter Schramm writes about a conversation with a 100-year-old friend, and two things everyone should know. I like this part, which is a recurring theme of this blog: prudence. Usually when people try to explain this neglected virtue, they end up merely restating abstract moral principles --do good, avoid evil, choose what's best in the long run. Which doesn't touch this virtue's importance --because its exercise comes precisely in applying abstract principles in concrete circumstances.

The second thing they should learn is the difference between excecutive power and legislative. And he means not only in the constitutional sense. He explains why governors are more likely to become presidents than are legislators. The power attaches to the character, the character is formed by the power, and the executive disposition is to do things. An executive is a doer, he follows things to the end. Doer is a good word. And when you do things you get things done and you also make mistakes. And then you undo those by doing again. This is hard, for each action has a consequence and it is you who are held accountable. So courage is involved, and that means confidence and that is important in a world at arms.

The friend says the American character is a "doer" character. Well, so far.