This past Sunday’s reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to Timothy offered a striking reminder: “I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone — for kings and for all in authority — that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God.”

At its heart, this passage suggests that one of the highest purposes of government is to create the conditions for people to flourish. Good leadership allows citizens to live peaceful, dignified lives — free from turmoil and secure enough to devote themselves to family, work, worship, and service.

This idea has deep roots beyond scripture. The philosopher Aristotle wrote that the aim of the polis — the community governed together — was to enable its citizens to a

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