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

Tyranny

By Denis Diderot

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Thoughts are the shadows of our sensations -- always darker,

Thoughts are the shadows of our sensations -- always darker, emptier, simpler than these.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Thought

Is anyone simply by birth to be applauded or punished?

Is anyone simply by birth to be applauded or punished?

Ancestry Ancestors

When you're in a relationship with somebody who is also a pu

When you're in a relationship with somebody who is also a public personality, then it doubles the attention from the media.

Michelle Williams

Relationship

There are big men, men of intellect, intellectual men, men o

There are big men, men of intellect, intellectual men, men of talent and men of action; but the great man is difficult to find, and it needs --apart from discernment --a certain greatness to find him.

Genius

I was able to do The Saint of Fort Washington, on the relati

I was able to do The Saint of Fort Washington, on the relationship between two homeless men.

Relationship

I've always thought vampires were interesting because they l

I've always thought vampires were interesting because they live forever, they're always well-financed, they dress well, you know what I mean? And they're, like, cool. Usually vampire - you've never seen a broke vampire. Have you?

Cool

Play the glass,Perform the glassWith a motion of the glass,w

Play the glass,Perform the glassWith a motion of the glass,with one breath,a multitude of tones are played on the glassThe glass like a living bodygrows and changes its formAll th shapes played by the glass resound with beautyWhen blowing the glass I feel like a maestroThen suddenly come to myselfand I am just a child playing with soap bubbles

Hiruomi, source unknown

Imagination

Love is three quarters curiosity.

Love is three quarters curiosity.

Giacomo Casanova

Love

Americans are terrified because so many of them have been la

Americans are terrified because so many of them have been laid off in recent years and months and they fear that they may be next. Even if they have not been laid off or have not known anyone laid off, they definitely know someone who has lost his home.

Fear

If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As

If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.

Great

Success comes when people act together failure tends to happ

Success comes when people act together failure tends to happen alone.

Alone

People never learn anything by being told, they have to find

People never learn anything by being told, they have to find out for themselves.

Experience