Reluctant Ruler: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|''"He didn't marry you to become king. He became king because he wanted to marry you."''}} |
{{quote|''"He didn't marry you to become king. He became king because he wanted to marry you."''}} |
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* ''The Icarus Agenda'' by [[Robert Ludlum]] has a conspiracy of [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]] who want to give America a good President, implying one who didn't seek the power for its own sake, but recognise that one such would be unlikely to volunteer for high political office or to beat the more power-hungry and politically wily candidates if he did; their solution is to find a suitable candidate and manipulate his career without his knowledge. |
* ''The Icarus Agenda'' by [[Robert Ludlum]] has a conspiracy of [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]] who want to give America a good President, implying one who didn't seek the power for its own sake, but recognise that one such would be unlikely to volunteer for high political office or to beat the more power-hungry and politically wily candidates if he did; their solution is to find a suitable candidate and manipulate his career without his knowledge. |
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* In ''[[The Marvelous Land of Oz]]'', the Scarecrow admits he doesn't like being king and isn't very good at it. He claims the Wizard had loyalty from his subjects because he was a dark, mysterious presence that they were afraid of. The Scarecrow didn't have that, being an open ruler who wasn't very intimidating. When General Jinjur launched her revolt, he would have gladly abdicated had Jinjur not intended to execute him and his allies. |
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* Invoked in one book (sorry, can't remember author or title) when someone explains, more or less, "We want someone who has to be dragged into office kicking and screaming, but who will then do the best job he can in hopes of being let off early for good behavior." |
* Invoked in one book (sorry, can't remember author or title) when someone explains, more or less, "We want someone who has to be dragged into office kicking and screaming, but who will then do the best job he can in hopes of being let off early for good behavior." |
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** Sounds a bit like The Republic, where Plato writes that the philosophers who have no interest in ruling should be forced to become kings for the benefit of the people. |
** Sounds a bit like The Republic, where Plato writes that the philosophers who have no interest in ruling should be forced to become kings for the benefit of the people. |
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* A downplayed example in ''[[Ciaphas Cain|The Traitor's Hand]]''. Cain remarks that the local planetary regent, being the chief bureaucrat rather than the usual aristocratic appointee, is considerably more sensible than the average governor. He suggests that "the absolute last person who should end up with power is the one who wants it". |
* A downplayed example in ''[[Ciaphas Cain|The Traitor's Hand]]''. Cain remarks that the local planetary regent, being the chief bureaucrat rather than the usual aristocratic appointee, is considerably more sensible than the average governor. He suggests that "the absolute last person who should end up with power is the one who wants it". |
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* In [[The Tamuli]], the Isle of Tega builds its entire government on this. Nobody asks to be nominated for public office; as soon as you're nominated, you're placed under guard, and if elected your possessions are sold and the proceeds put into the treasury. At the end of your five-year term, if the economy prospered, you get your money back with proportionate interest. If it floundered, you could lose everything. Many officials have worked themselves to death for the good of the republic. |
* In [[The Tamuli]], the Isle of Tega builds its entire government on this. Nobody asks to be nominated for public office; as soon as you're nominated, you're placed under guard, and if elected your possessions are sold and the proceeds put into the treasury. At the end of your five-year term, if the economy prospered, you get your money back with proportionate interest. If it floundered, you could lose everything. Many officials have worked themselves to death for the good of the republic. |
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== Live Action TV == |
== Live Action TV == |
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