Today’s irreverent politics ignore ancient wisdom: The need to know your limits

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(The Conversation) — A common complaint today laments the “ shamelessness” of politicians . Until recently, the argument goes, more elected officials had a sense of shame to hold them back from ugly words and deeds, at least in public. Many in the current crop, however, seem to have no fear of disgrace ; they revel in contempt for the niceties of old – unwritten rules against cursing, slander or lying, but also written rules against abuse of power .

The problem isn’t so much a question of bad manners or even of corruption. It’s really about leadership.

I study the history of political thought and work on the psychology of lawfulness : the character traits citizens need for the rule of law to work. One such trait is each person’s ability to limit herself – to revere some larger principle that she would be ashamed to betray.

That’s all the more true for good leaders, even in a constitutional republic defined by checks and balances . Sometimes decisions need to be made over the objections of partisan opposition or of another branch of government. But the public can trust decision-makers only…