Summary
This quote suggests that statesmen, or political leaders, require a certain level of stability in beliefs, regardless of whether those beliefs are true or false. In order to effectively govern, a statesman needs to have a firm and consistent ideology or set of principles. These beliefs provide a sense of direction and purpose in making decisions and formulating policies. However, the quote acknowledges that these beliefs can be either accurate or misguided. Therefore, the quote highlights the necessity for statesmen to have a consistent framework of belief, but leaves room for debate about the moral and factual validity of those beliefs.