Quotes About Rulership

Yo declaro que la justicia no es otra cosa que la conveniencia del más fuerte.

When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty and there is nothing to fear from them then he is always stirring up some wary or other in order that the people may require a leader.

Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race. (Republic 473c-d)

For it is likely that if a city of good men came to be, there would be a fight over not ruling, just as there is now over ruling; and there it would become manifest that a true ruler really does not naturally consider his own advantage but rather that of the one who is ruled.

justice is nothing else than the interest of the stronger.

the greatest of penalties is being ruled by a worse man if one is not willing to rule oneself. It is because they fear this, in my view, that decent men rule, when they do rule; and at that time they proceed to enter on rule, not as though they were going to something good, or as though they were going to be well off in it; but they enter on it as a necessity and because they have no one better than or like themselves to whom to turn it over.

Need we hire a herald, or shall I announce, that the son of Ariston (the best) has decided that the best and justest is also the happiest, and that this is he who is the most royal man and king over himself; and that the worst and most unjust man is also the most miserable, and that this is he who being the greatest tyrant of himself is also the greatest tyrant of his State? Make the proclamation yourself, he said. And

In a city composed wholly of good men there would be a great unwillingness to rule

News flash, lady. There are no queens anymore," Shane said. He loaded shells in a shotgun and snapped it shut, then searched for a place to strap it on that didn't interfere with the flamethrower. "No queens, no kings, no emperors. Not in America. Only CEOs. Same thing, but not so many crowns.

In Hell," she said, "someone's in charge.

On the day when I know all the emblems," he asked Marco, "shall I be able to possess my empire, at last?" And the Venetian answered: "Sire, do not believe it. On that day you will be an emblem among emblems.

Each year new consuls and proconsuls are made; but not every year is a king or a poet born.

A King (as such) is not a great man. He has great power, but it is not his own.

Being ruled by anything other than God is something God takes quite seriously. And so should I. I don't want to live as an enemy to the cross of Christ. In other words, I don't want to live resistant to the power Christ's death and resurrection provides for me just because I can't walk away from my unhealthy cravings.

As Knox had proclaimed, Elizabeth ruled from the head and Mary from the heart

When the mob governs, man is ruled by ignorance; when the church governs, he is ruled by superstition; and when the state governs, he is ruled by fear. Before men can live together in harmony and understanding, ignorance must be transmuted into wisdom, superstition into an illumined faith, and fear into love.

the bishop was indeed conducting himself like a second king.

King Sæberht of Essex was succeeded by his pagan sons,

the old king died not long afterwards in January 858. The elder son retained the position he had usurped,

He who dreads hostility too much is unfit to rule.

At the beginning of a dynasty, taxation yields a large revenue from small assessments. At the end of the dynasty, taxation yields a small revenue from large assessments.

When you are about to hand control of the senate and people of Rome, the armies, the provinces, the allies to one man alone, would you look to the belly of a wife to produce him or search for an heir to supreme power only within the walls of your own home? … If he is to rule over all, he must be chosen from all.

The thing to keep in mind is that laws are framed by those who happen to be in power and for the purpose of keeping them in power.

Certainly, I thought, Dion means to have his way. But I suppose that's what makes a king.