Why should we not expect self-designated environmental leaders to

David Frum, with the sharpness of a prophet calling out hypocrisy, once asked: “Why should we not expect self-designated environmental leaders to practice what they preach?” This is no idle question, but a challenge hurled across the ages: that words without deeds are empty, that those who bear the mantle of leadership must first be faithful to their own teachings. His question, framed as a rebuke, pierces the heart of an ancient truth—that example is stronger than command, and that those who guide others must themselves walk the path they proclaim.

The meaning of this saying is rooted in the eternal tension between speech and action. To call oneself an environmental leader is to stand as a guardian of creation, a defender of the earth, and a herald of responsibility. Yet if such a leader consumes wastefully, travels heedlessly, or disregards the very principles he demands of others, his words dissolve into dust. Frum’s challenge is clear: authority comes not from titles or declarations, but from consistency between belief and behavior. To preach sustainability while living in excess is not leadership, but deception.

The origin of this reflection lies in the modern debates of climate and conservation. Frum, a writer and commentator, looked upon the public figures who championed environmental causes, yet whose personal lives contradicted their sermons. It is a reminder that leadership in any sphere—be it political, spiritual, or ecological—requires integrity. The ancients knew this truth well: a general who feasted while his soldiers starved could not command loyalty, and a philosopher who preached virtue but lived in vice could not persuade the wise. Frum’s words revive this timeless demand for alignment between word and deed.

History itself illustrates his wisdom. Consider the story of Mahatma Gandhi, who called for simplicity, nonviolence, and resistance against injustice. Gandhi’s power did not rest in lofty speeches alone, but in his life of radical simplicity. He spun his own cloth, ate sparingly, and lived as the poorest of his countrymen lived. It was his practice of what he preached that gave his voice thunder across the world. Compare this with leaders throughout history who called for sacrifice while indulging in luxury—their hypocrisy bred only resentment and rebellion. Here we see the eternal truth: integrity sustains movements, while hypocrisy destroys them.

There is also an emotional force in Frum’s words. His question is not gentle—it is confrontational. It compels us to look inward, to ask whether we, too, live the truths we proclaim. The sting of his challenge lies not only for the mighty, but for the humble: every parent who instructs their child, every teacher who guides their students, every citizen who calls for change. To demand virtue from others while neglecting it ourselves is to build on sand, and the house so built will not stand when the floods come.

To future generations, Frum’s words serve as both warning and guidance. The warning is that causes, however noble, will collapse if led by hypocrites; the guidance is that true leadership shines brightest in authenticity. If we wish to see a world healed of environmental destruction, then let those who speak of conservation live as models of conservation. The people will follow deeds far more readily than speeches. For words kindle, but example sustains.

The lesson is thus: do not demand of others what you will not demand of yourself. Let your life be the first testimony of your convictions. In practical terms, this means embracing moderation, reducing waste, living simply, and showing in daily acts the truth of your values. A single leader who lives honestly by his principles can ignite more change than a hundred voices who speak without action.

Thus Frum’s question endures, sharp and unyielding: “Why should we not expect self-designated environmental leaders to practice what they preach?” Let all who hear it take heed, for it is not only a question for leaders of nations, but for each soul that dares to guide another. Walk the path you proclaim, and your footsteps will echo farther than your words. For only in unity of speech and action does true leadership find its power.