The term "statesman" is an admirable term used to refer to diplomats, politicians, and other notable figures of state. It is often used in the context of international or foreign affairs, ie "a meeting of statesmen." Whether or not an individual actually is a statesman, is a matter of opinion. Politicians who are regarded as statesmen are usually old, with long careers.
The term most frequently refers to individuals associated with a governmental shift from monarchism to republicanism. Geneally, one can use the word as a euphemism for "politician". When a politician retires, he is often refered to as a "respected elder statesman" by his supporters.
Quote
- Aristotle -- "What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions."
