Despotism Quotes

Liberty begets anarchy, anarchy leads to despotism, and despotism brings about liberty once again. Millions of human beings have perished without being able to make any of these systems triumph.

The leading princes are the most servile tools of English despotism. . . . The native princes are the stronghold of the present abominable English system.

The worst of all States is the democratic State.

France was long a despotism tempered by epigrams.

Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism.

So long as war is the main business of nations, temporary despotism - despotism during the campaign - is indispensable.

Despotism increases in severity with the number of despots; the responsibility is more divided, and the claims are more numerous.

We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed.

Despotism can no more exist in a nation until the liberty of the press be destroyed than the night can happen before the sun is set.

When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government-that is despotism.

Despotism isn't nearly as bad as it's cracked up to be.

It's political Daddyism and it's as old as demagogues and despotism.

There is this of good in real evils; they deliver us, while they last, from the petty despotism of all that were imaginary.

To add to our misery and despair, a bloated aristocracy has sent to China - the greatest and oldest despotism in the world - for a cheap working slave.

The revolutionary government is the despotism of liberty against tyranny

If Despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has Democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.

What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems founded on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal and fallacious.

Travelers describe a tree in the island of Java whose pestiferous exhalations blight every tiny blade of grass within the compass of its shade. So it is with despotism.

Beauty is the greatest of human powers. Any power without counterbalance or control becomes autocratic and leads to abuse and to folly. Despotism in a government is insanity; in woman, fantasy.

Nothing renders a nation so despicable as religious despotism.

There is no history worthy attention save that of free nations; the history of nations under the sway of despotism is no more than a collection of anecdotes.

Despotism is unjust to everybody, including the despot, who was probably made for better things.

Despotism is the only form of government which may with safety to itself, neglect the education of its infant poor.

Other offences, even the greatest, are the violation of one law: despotism is the violation of all.

There was one species of despotism under which he had long groaned, and that was petticoat government.

A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations...is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does of necessity fly to anarchy or to despotism.

As virtue is necessary in a republic, and honor in a monarchy, fear is what is required in a despotism. As for virtue, it is not at all necessary, and honor would be dangerous there.

Not mythical material productive forces, but reason and ideas determine the course of human affairs. What is needed to stop the trend toward socialism and despotism is common-sense and moral courage.

Creativity doesn't flourish in an atmosphere of despotism, coercion and fear.

Against us are all timid men who prefer the calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of liberty We are likely to preserve the liberty we have obtained only by unremitting labors and perils.

Despotism is a long crime.

It is far more important to resist apathy than anarchy or despotism, for apathy can give rise, almost indifferently, to either one.

The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.

You can't build politics on love. People aren't concerned with love; it's too disordered. They prefer despotism. Too much freedom breeds chaos.

Inertia! Our ruling class knows one law; no change. Despotism! They know one rule; force. Maldistribution! They know one desire; to hold what is theirs.

Only the history of free peoples is worth our attention; the history of men under a despotism is merely a collection of anecdotes.

Confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism. Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence.

Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians, provided the end be their improvement.

Despotism may be able to do without religion, but democracy cannot.

A people among whom custom is altogether sovereign endures the despotism of the dead.

The faith in reason insists that the poverty of democracy offers a greater hope for mankind than the prosperity that attaches itself to aristocracy or despotism.

Attempts at reform, when they fail, strengthen despotism, as he that struggles tightens those cords he does not succeed in breaking.

We are ruled by chance but never have enough patience to accept its despotism.

A court which yields to the popular will thereby licenses itself to practice despotism, for there can be no assurance that it will not, on another occasion, indulge its own will.

No despotism is so formidable as that of a religion or a scientific system.

That slow poison [slavery] is daily contaminating the minds and morals of our people. Every gentlemen here is born a petty tyrant, practiced in acts of despotism and cruelty.

Despotism accomplishes great things illegally; liberty doesn't even go to the trouble of accomplishing small things legally.

[Restraints on the press] in all ages, have debauched morals, depressed liberty, shackled religion, supported despotism, and deluged the scaffold with blood.

In matters editorial, I am a believer in totalitarian despotism. Most writers are lazy, difficult, selfish, thoughtless, and unreliable.

The despotism of custom is on the wane. We are not content to know that things are; we ask whether they ought to be.