“I would have been glad to have lived under my wood side, and to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than to have undertaken this government.”
- April 25, 1599 – September 3, 1658
- English
- Military and Political Leader, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland
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Quote
“I would have been glad to have lived under my wood side, and to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than to have undertaken this government.”
Explanation
This quote reveals Cromwell’s personal reluctance and burden of leadership. Despite his immense power as Lord Protector, he expresses a yearning for a simpler, pastoral life, suggesting that governing a divided nation brought more weariness than glory. The statement is deeply human—it reflects the cost of responsibility and the tension between personal peace and public duty.
Cromwell came to power not through ambition for the crown, but through military success and religious conviction. Having helped overthrow the monarchy and navigate civil war, he was placed in a position of enormous authority. Yet he often portrayed himself as a reluctant ruler, guided by necessity and divine calling, not personal desire. This quote fits that image: a man of conscience who might have preferred a quiet life, had not providence and principle drawn him into conflict and command.
In modern terms, this sentiment echoes among leaders, reformers, or whistleblowers who feel compelled to act not for gain, but from duty or moral imperative. It stands as a reminder that true leadership is often accompanied by sacrifice, and that those most fit to lead may be the ones who did not seek power, but accepted it when their conscience required it.
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