The Wolf

The Revolution failed because it was badly directed, because its leader won his post not with praiseworthy but with blameworthy acts, because instead of employing the most useful men of the nation he jealously discarded them. Believing that the advance of the people was no more than his own personal advance, he did not rate men according to their ability, character and patriotism but according to the degree of friendship or kinship binding him to them; and wanting to have favorites willing to sacrifice themselves for him, he showed himself lenient to their faults. Because he disdained the people, he could not fall like an idol of wax melting in the heat of heat of adversity. May we never forget such a terrible lesson learned at the cost of unspeakable sufferings!

—Apolinario Mabini, as quoted by Nick Joaquin in A Question of Heroes. Strange isn’t it that the minister would speak of nepotism and politics in the Philippines long after he’s gone. We never learn.