Exploring Mirrors for Princes and the Concept of History as a Mirror

An interview with Johnny Burtka, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. He is a graduate of Hillsdale College, and his most recent book is titled “Gateway to Statesmanship—Selections from Xenophon to Churchill”.

In this episode:

• The Mirrors for Princes tradition
• Obstacles as a Ladder to Greatness
• The Potency of Xenophon’s ‘Education of Cyrus’
• The Leadership Qualities of Cyrus
• The Complex Enduring Power of Cicero’s ‘On Duties’
• Cultivating Greatness of Soul and the Magnitudo Animi of Churchill
• Machiavelli as Practitioner, not Political Philosopher
• Where should an 18-year old dedicate himself to?
• Washington’s Farewell Address as a Beautiful Political Text

Books Mentioned:

• Gateway to Statesmanship—Selections from Xenophon to Churchill by Johnny Burtka
• Education of Cyrus by Xenophon
• On Duties by Cicero
• The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley by Jimmy Soni
• Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts

For the episode transcript, be sure to subscribe to my Substack!

Thanks to our sponsor Intercollegiate Studies Institute! Check out their programs on supporting quality thought and intellectual life in and after your college years.