Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree website | Aug 07, 2017

In the June 1983 British General Election, Mrs. Thatcher easily won another term as Prime Minister. One of the first things she did after her election was sack her foreign minister, Mr. Francis Pym.

A descendent of John Pym (1584-1643), whose power during the reign of Charles I was so great that he was known as 'King Pym', Sir Francis Pym had all the qualities and dignity of a capable and respected statesman. He had held high cabinet office. Why, then, did Mrs. Thatcher dismiss him from her government? The reason was that he had said something during the election campaign that Mrs. Thatcher had not liked. Discussing the role of the opposition in government, he had said that "a strong opposition is indispensable ingredient of good government," the reason being that "no government is perfect." Mrs. Thatcher was unable to tolerate this remark, and dismissed Sir Francis from his cabinet post.

Being unable to abide criticism is a common human weakness. Its most damaging effect is to rob one of one's friends.

No great task can be accomplished without the help of friends who are fully equipped for the task. The only way to bring such people together is to put up with their criticism. Intelligent people cannot suppress their thoughts. A broad-minded leader, then, will let them freely express themselves; he will not be angered at their dissent. In this way he will ensure the continued allegiance of valuable friends. One who is narrow-minded, however, will not be able to appreciate the worth of such people. The result will be that a mediocre group of people will gather around him who have the calibre neither to perform great deeds, nor to comprehend them.