But the visit also lays bare the daunting gap between a laudable, idealistic vision, and the hard realities and choices that presidents must so often confront.
The vision is laudable but, as well as looking outward, Edinburgh's leaders would do well to draw inspiration from its own history: from the harmonious plans of its architects, the wisdom of its political philosophers, and the tireless energy of its administrators who, out of disorder and poverty, constructed one of the world's great cities.
Her vision is laudable, and she cuts a striking figure: art rich, emotionally poor.
Real, courageous leaders weave in a second biblical attribute, wisdom, and use their salesmanship (a necessary and laudable political skill) to cast a vision in which we rise above ourselves.
So far, it is not at all clear how that vision is distinctive, beyond the laudable but universal aims of alleviating poverty, improving schools and hospitals and reinforcing meritocracy.
Such vision and decision-making are laudable.
Those goals focus primarily on Lyft's autonomous ambitions, and so are contingent on the ride hailing company accomplishing its self-driving vision at scale, but they're laudable goals nonetheless.
May's vision is clouded, in other words, when her laudable ambition to promote equality comes up against her Tory instinct to be tough on immigration.
Meanwhile, highly rated research projects perceived to be outside the vision appear marginalized, threatening NASA's long and laudable tradition of balanced, merit-based selection.
