Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck.
It lives on other people’s ideas, and, although its ordinary people are adaptable, most of its leaders (in all fields) so lack curiosity about the events that surround them that they are often taken by surprise.
A nation more concerned with styles of life than with achievement has managed to achieve what may be the most evenly prosperous society in the world.
It has done this in a social climate largely inimical to originality and the desire for excellence (except in sport) and in which there is less and less acclamation of hard work.
According to the rules Australia has not deserved its good fortune.
Extract from Chapter 10 of ‘The Lucky Country’, under the sub-heading ‘Living on our luck’. was produced by Penguin Books.
Donald-horne released Extract from Chapter 10 of ‘The Lucky Country’, under the sub-heading ‘Living on our luck’. on Wed Jan 01 1964.