A week is a long time in politics.

The words of Harold Wilson—“A week is a long time in politics.”—are simple on the tongue, yet profound in their wisdom. They speak to the ever-shifting nature of power, the fleeting loyalty of the masses, and the unpredictable winds that shape the destiny of nations. Wilson, who himself endured the tempests of British politics in the twentieth century, knew that in the arena of governance, fortunes may rise or collapse in the span of days. His phrase endures as both warning and insight: in politics, time is not measured in years, but in moments charged with change.

To the ancients, politics was a battlefield of fate as much as of reason. The orators of Athens and the senators of Rome knew well that a single week could bring triumph or disaster. A scandal revealed, a war declared, an enemy slain—such events could elevate a man to the heights of glory or cast him into the pit of disgrace. Thus, Wilson’s words echo the eternal truth that power is fragile, and the world of politics is as unstable as the sea, where tides turn swiftly and without warning.

Consider the fall of the French monarchy in 1789. One week, King Louis XVI was still enthroned, the symbol of divine authority; within days, the storming of the Bastille signaled the unraveling of centuries of rule. Each day brought news that reshaped the destiny of France, and those who thought themselves secure found the ground collapsing beneath their feet. Truly, in politics, a week is a long time—long enough for empires to tremble and rulers to be undone.

In our own age, history gives further testimony. Richard Nixon, President of the United States, seemed secure even amidst controversy. Yet in the span of weeks during the Watergate scandal, revelations mounted like waves, and what seemed once survivable grew into a tidal wave that forced his resignation. One week, he stood as the most powerful man on earth; soon after, he departed in disgrace. Here again, the rhythm of Wilson’s words proves true: time in politics moves not steadily, but in surges, capable of rewriting history in days.

Beloved listener, the meaning for us is clear: politics is not a slow-moving river, but a torrent that may carry men to glory or ruin in the blink of an eye. Leaders must be vigilant, not resting in false security, for their fortunes may change swiftly. And citizens, too, must watch carefully, for events that seem small today may, in a single week, alter the course of their nation. Eternity hides in the span of days.

The lesson is also personal. In our own lives, outside of politics, we too encounter the rapid shifts of fortune. A week may bring sorrow or joy, loss or opportunity, despair or hope. If the realm of politics teaches us anything, it is that we must be prepared for change, ever ready to adapt, and never arrogant in assuming permanence. Just as rulers must tread carefully, so too must we, for what we think stable today may be overturned tomorrow.

Practical wisdom, then, is this: live prepared, live alert, and do not waste your time. In politics, as in life, a week may hold the seeds of transformation. Guard your words, for in days they may rise against you. Guard your choices, for they may echo longer than you expect. And when despair weighs upon you, remember also that time may yet bring reversal, that the tide may soon turn in your favor. For indeed, a week is a long time—long enough to lose all, or long enough to find redemption.

So let Wilson’s saying endure as a lamp of vigilance and hope: in politics, and in life, never take the present moment as eternal. Stand ready, for the winds of change may blow sooner than you think. And when they do, may you not be swept away unprepared, but rise with them, steering your course toward wisdom and victory.