October 11, 2026

A revolution requires of its leaders a record of unbroken infallibility. If they do not possess it they are expected to invent it.

Murray Kempton (1917 – 1997), American journalist, Part of Our Time (1955), in The Cynic’s Lexicon, Jonathon Green, ed. (London: 1986), p. 113

MEDITATION: Which men on white horses (those expected to solve everything, whatever that might include), which of them did you once take as infallible? Incapable of error? Did they pitch that impression themselves or was it vested in them by their followers, yourself included? Are you still in their thrall?

COMMENTARY: Never mind the invention of a record of infallibility! What is amazing is the buy-in, the acceptance of it by others!

The toughest thing for the true believer is to accept their own fallibility—their own mistake as demonstrated when they bought into the belief that their dear leader could make no mistake.