Quote by Leo Tolstoy

In quiet and untroubled times it seems to every administrator that it is only by his efforts that the whole population under his rule is kept going, and in this consciousness of being indispensable every administrator finds the chief reward of his labor and efforts. While the sea of history remains calm the ruler-administrator in his frail bark, holding on with a boat hook to the ship of the people and himself moving, naturally imagines that his efforts move the ship he is holding on to. But as soon as a storm arises and the sea begins to heave and the ship to move, such a delusion is no longer possible. The ship moves independently with its own enormous motion, the boat hook no longer reaches the moving vessel, and suddenly the administrator, instead of appearing a ruler and a source of power, becomes an insignificant, useless, feeble man.

Summary

This quote highlights the fallacy that administrators hold during peaceful times, believing that their efforts alone are responsible for the success and stability of their realm. In this false sense of indispensability, they find validation and fulfillment. However, when challenging times arise, and the people or "ship" they govern begin to move independently and dynamically, it becomes clear that the administrator's influence is limited. Their perceived power diminishes, and they are exposed as weak and inconsequential. The quote serves as a reminder of the inherent fragility and insignificance of those in positions of authority, and the ultimately autonomous nature of the collective they govern.