To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for that which would be his finest hour. —Winston S. Churchill
The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politics—we approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.
We hope you will join us in The Imaginative Conservative community. The Imaginative Conservative is an on-line journal for those who seek the True, the Good and the Beautiful. We address culture, liberal learning, politics, political economy, literature, the arts and the American Republic in the tradition of Russell Kirk, T.S. Eliot, Edmund Burke, Irving Babbitt, Wilhelm Roepke, Robert Nisbet, Richard Weaver, M.E. Bradford, Eric Voegelin, Christopher Dawson, Paul Elmer More and other leaders of Imaginative Conservatism. Some conservatives may look at the state of Western culture and the American Republic and see a huge dark cloud which seems ready to unleash a storm that may well wash away what we most treasure of our inherited ways. Others focus on the silver lining which may be found in the next generation of traditional conservatives who have been inspired by Dr. Kirk and his like. We hope that The Imaginative Conservative answers T.S. Eliot’s call to “redeem the time, redeem the dream.” The Imaginative Conservative offers to our families, our communities, and the Republic, a conservatism of hope, grace, charity, gratitude and prayer.
The featured image is courtesy of Pixabay and has been altered slightly from the original.
I have seen this quote as an affirmation as I prepare to step forward and throw my hat into the ring of the executive arena. The timing empirical, the phraseology inspiring, and the concept quintessential.
This is a call to preparedness ahead of need, and the idea of being as ready as one can be to face the unknowns of the future. I have often seen where the attributes/skills/education one needs to take advantage of an opportunity offered cannot be attained between the time the offer is presented and when the window to attain it closes. You must be, to the best of your ability, already qualified and capable when the door opens. Given that this was coming from a leader taking his country through the deadliest war in history, the call to be ready for what comes had immediate meaning.