This was clearly not just an abstract idea: the violence of the clashes between factions left a profound mark on his life, as he was exiled, theoretically sentenced to death and his goods were confiscated when his political faction fell from power. This dense fog of public ills and personal suffering prevented him from seeing further ahead.
*  *  *  I appreciate the opportunity to participate in a symposium that is exploring ways to improve the financial systems of Europe and the United States. The unfolding concerns in recent months about the quality of the accounting, auditing, and disclosure practices of major nonfinancial and financial companies give added importance to our discussions here.