“We chose younger and younger politicians to lead us because they looked good on television and were sharp. But really we should be looking for wisdom, and choosing people who had acquired it; and such people, in general, looked bad on television - gray, lined, thoughtful.”

Scottish novelist and lawyer of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Alexander McCall Smith is best known for his series of gentle, philosophical novels set in Edinburgh and Africa, blending humor and wisdom. His works often explore themes of kindness, community, and the quiet joys of everyday life, earning him a devoted global readership.