• Dr. Fauci: “So it’s easy to criticize. But they’re really criticizing science, because I represent science. That’s dangerous.”
• Prime Minister Ardern of New Zealand: “Otherwise, dismiss anything else. We will continue to be your single source of truth.”
There are many other instances of hubris and arrogance in politicians, scientists, and others. But it’s hard to top these examples. “I represent science.” But Fauci doesn’t mean “represent” in the sense that Senator Schumer represents New York. He means it in the sense that Louis XIV represented France. Schumer serves his constituents’ interests. If he did not, they would vote him out of office.
But Louis XIV ruled France. He famously declared, “I am the state.” No Frenchmen dreamed that the king represented any interests but his own. Of course, they could not vote him out of office. His descendant Louis XVI was removed from office, but only by beheading. There may be a lesson here for would-be tyrants who imagine that they themselves personify their science, their nation, or their whatever. Self-importance can be dangerous. It’s risky to give people the impression that you are so big that only drastic measures could remove you from your exalted position.
