Quote by Denis Diderot

The arbitrary rule of a just and enlightened prince is always bad. His virtues are the most dangerous and the surest form of seduction: they lull a people imperceptibly into the habit of loving, respecting, and serving his successor, whoever that successor may be, no matter how wicked or stupid.

The arbitrary rule of a just and enlightened prince is alway

Summary

This quote suggests that although a just and enlightened ruler may initially be perceived as an ideal leader, their virtues can ultimately pose a danger to the people. By gaining their love, respect, and service, the ruler creates a habit within the population that can endure even when their successor is corrupt or foolish. Therefore, the arbitrary rule of a seemingly virtuous prince is seen as inherently bad because it can lead to a perpetuation of loyalty and subjugation, regardless of the ruler's actual qualities.

Topics

By Denis Diderot

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

The U.S. states that allow for citizens' initiatives tend to

The U.S. states that allow for citizens' initiatives tend to have fewer laws and lower taxes than the ones that don't. But the beauty of the system is that it encourages the spread of best practice.

People often ask me how I make things funny. I don't make th

People often ask me how I make things funny. I don't make things funny.

I just want to say, good night, sweet prince, may flights of

I just want to say, good night, sweet prince, may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Harry Dean Stanton

Prerequisite for rereadability in books: that they be forget

Prerequisite for rereadability in books: that they be forgettable.

The end of wisdom is to dream high enough to lose the dream

The end of wisdom is to dream high enough to lose the dream in the seeking of it.

William Faulkner

Anger begins with folly, and ends with repentance.

Anger begins with folly, and ends with repentance.

I do as much comedy as I possibly can, but I'm basically lim

I do as much comedy as I possibly can, but I'm basically limited by the imagination of the secretaries who make the decisions.

If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that's

If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that's a big accomplishment. That quality is important because it stays with you the rest of your life, and there's going to be a life after tennis that's a lot longer than your tennis life.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and ha

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not money, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not money, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not money, it profiteth me nothing. Money suffereth long, and is kind; money envieth not; money vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. . . . And now abideth faith, hope, money, these three; but the greatest of these is money. I Corinthians xiii (adapted)

Money Love Cynicism Bible

I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, a

I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.

Mikhail Bakunin

Poetry is just so emo,' he said. 'Oh, the pain. The pain. It

Poetry is just so emo,' he said. 'Oh, the pain. The pain. It always rains. In my soul.

Poetry Emo Rain

Each of us should take personal responsibility for our diet,

Each of us should take personal responsibility for our diet, and our children's diet, and the government's role should be to make certain it provides the best information possible to help people stay healthy.