Despotism Quotes

• Government is frequently and aptly classed under two descriptions-a government of force, and a government of laws; the first is the definition of despotism-the last, of liberty.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Government, Law, Two

  Alexander Hamilton (1851). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Comprising His Correspondence, and His Political and Official Writings, Exclusive of the Federalist, Civil and Military. Published from the Original Manuscripts Deposited in the Department of State, by Order of the Joint Library Committee of Congress”, p.164

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• Despotism can only exist in darkness.

  James Madison

  Darkness, Firmament

  James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

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• The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.

  George Washington

  Country, Revenge, Party

  United States. President, George Washington, United States (1825). “The speeches, addresses and messages, of the several presidents of the United States, at the openings of Congress and at their respective inaugurations: Also, the Declaration of independence, the Constitution of the United States, and Washington's farewell address to his fellow-citizens”, p.104

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• Where some people are very wealthy and others have nothing, the result will be either extreme democracy or absolute oligarchy, or despotism will come from either of those excesses.

  Aristotle

  People, Democracy, Excess

  'Politics' bk. 1, sect. 4, 1296a

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• If men use their liberty in such a way as to surrender their liberty, are they thereafter any the less slaves? If people by a plebiscite elect a man despot over them, do they remain free because the despotism was of their own making?

  Herbert Spencer

  Freedom, Men, People

  Herbert Spencer, John Offer (1994). “Spencer: Political Writings”, p.76, Cambridge University Press

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• An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among general bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Government, Liberty, Principles

  "Notes on the State of Virginia". Book by Thomas Jefferson, Query XIII, 1781.

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• The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.

  Thomas Paine

  Motivation, Fear, Tyrants

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• By giving the government unlimited powers, the most arbitrary rule can be made legal; and in this way a democracy may set up the most complete despotism imaginable.

  Friedrich August von Hayek

  Government, Giving, Democracy

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• Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

  Aristotle

  Philosophical, Historical, Democracy

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• Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural power corrupts both the heart and the understanding.

  Edmund Burke

  Heart, Tyrants, Political

  Edmund Burke (1858). “The Inherent Evils of All State Governments Demonstrated; Being a Reprint of ... “A Vindication of Natural Society.” With Notes and an Appendix, Etc”, p.19

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• An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.

  Thomas Jefferson

  4th Of July, Government, Liberty

  Thomas Jefferson, Richard Holland Johnston, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”

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• Despotism sits nowhere so secure as under the effigy and ensigns of freedom.

  Walter Savage Landor

  Secure

  Walter Savage Landor (1853). “The works of Walter Savage Landor [ed. by J. Forster].”, p.140

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• 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.

  Baron de Montesquieu

  Political, Honor, Would Be

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• To consider judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions is a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, Judging, Political

  Thomas Jefferson “Selected letters of Thomas Jefferson”, Lulu.com

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• We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is never found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Freedom, Real, Government

  Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton (1932). “Jeffersonian principles and Hamiltonian principles: extracts from the writings of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton”

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• Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.

  Oscar Wilde

  Funny, Sarcastic, Freedom

  'The Soul of Man under Socialism'

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• Arbitrary power is but the first natural step from anarchy, or the savage life.

  Jonathan Swift

  Savages, Arbitrary, Anarchy

  Jonathan Swift (1803). “The Works”, p.316

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• In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Believe, Blessing, Thinking

  On the Constitution (1787)

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• Wherever despotism abounds, the sources of public information are the first to be brought under its control. Where ever the cause of liberty is making its way, one of its highest accomplishments is the guarantee of the freedom of the press.

  Calvin Coolidge

  Accomplishment, Freedom Of Speech, Liberty

  "Foundations of the Republic; Speeches and Addresses" by Calvin Coolidge, 1926.

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• The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this, and learn to imitate it.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Wisdom, Workout, Children

  Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.130, Hackett Publishing

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• Democracy passes into despotism.

  Plato

  Plato, Philosophical, Government

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• 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.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Men, Self, White Man

  Address on the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise, delivered 16 October 1854, Peoria, Illinois

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• Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed? And what can be done with a people who are their own masters if they are not submissive to the Deity?

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Faith, Ties, People

  Alexis de Tocqueville (1862). “Democracy in America”, p.393

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• We should...be able to see that our interest would be best served not by asking the state to promulgate our values but by forbidding the state to promulgate any values at all. If the state can espouse some value that we love, it can, with equal justice, espouse others we do not love.

  Richard Mitchell

  Justice, Would Be, Asking

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• 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.

  Giovanni Ruffini

  Islands, Tree, Java

  Giovanni Ruffini (1857). “Doctor Antonio: a tale of Italy”, p.295

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