To err is human. To blame someone else is politics.
Hear, O children of wisdom, the words of Hubert H. Humphrey: “To err is human. To blame someone else is politics.” In this saying lies both humor and prophecy, for it joins the frailty of mankind with the cunning of rulers. All mortals stumble, for error is woven into our nature; but it is in the halls of politics where this frailty is transformed into artful evasion, where blame becomes a weapon to shield the guilty and condemn the innocent.
For error belongs to the individual, but blame, when misdirected, becomes a tool of power. The politician, fearing the judgment of the people, casts his failures upon others—his rivals, his allies, even the masses themselves. Thus, Humphrey unmasks the timeless game: that politics is often less the pursuit of truth than the orchestration of appearances, where victory is won not by virtue, but by shifting the weight of fault onto another’s shoulders.
History bears witness to this craft. When Nero set Rome aflame, it was not himself he condemned, but the Christians, upon whom he laid the guilt. By this false blame, he turned wrath from his throne to their heads, and their blood became his shield. So too, across ages, leaders have evaded their errors by turning the people’s anger upon convenient scapegoats, preserving their own power at the cost of justice.
Yet Humphrey’s words are not merely satire—they are a warning. For when blame becomes the essence of politics, truth itself perishes. The people, deceived by false accusations, may turn against their own neighbors, while the true culprits go unpunished. A nation ruled by blame is a house of mirrors, where responsibility is endlessly deflected, and accountability is lost.
Therefore, O seekers of wisdom, learn from this teaching. To err is human, and in this we are all united. But to own one’s error is divine, while to cast it upon another is the way of the coward and the demagogue. Let not politics be only the art of blame, but the school of responsibility. For the true leader is not he who hides his faults, but he who confesses them, and in confession finds strength.
TQTrang Quynh
Humphrey’s quote makes me reflect on the role of blame in political culture. While it’s easy to point fingers, especially when things go wrong, does this behavior perpetuate a cycle of inaction? Could this blame-shifting actually be hindering progress in our political systems? If we could shift away from constantly blaming others and focus on solutions, would that change the way politics works, or is this simply too ingrained to change?
VTPhan Van Truong
This quote resonates because it reflects a truth about human behavior, especially in politics. It’s easy to blame someone else rather than owning up to our mistakes. But do we, as a society, encourage this kind of behavior by tolerating it from politicians? Is there any hope for a shift toward accountability, or is the nature of politics such that deflecting blame will always be a part of the process?
L724. Ngo Thi Khanh linh 7A9
I find Humphrey’s quote insightful but also a little disheartening. The idea that blaming others is so ingrained in politics shows how deeply the lack of personal responsibility runs in the system. But does this mean we should just accept it? Or can we demand a political culture that rewards honesty and accountability over finger-pointing? How do we break this cycle where blaming others seems to be more important than solving problems?
PTPhuc Thinh
Humphrey’s quote is both humorous and accurate. It’s almost as if blaming others has become a strategic move in politics. But how does this impact public trust? When politicians don’t take responsibility, it can lead to frustration among citizens. Can we expect political reform that promotes accountability, or is this just part of the political machinery we’ve come to accept over time?
MNMy Nguyen
This quote feels like a clever yet biting commentary on the political system. Blaming others has almost become a default response in politics, but is that the only reason for the lack of responsibility? Shouldn’t leaders be setting an example and owning their mistakes? Can the political landscape change to encourage accountability, or will the tendency to deflect blame always be part of the game?