#despotism — Public Fediverse posts

A quotation from Twain

Unlimited power is the ideal thing when it is in safe hands. The despotism of heaven is the one absolutely perfect government, and earthly despotism would be the absolute perfect earthly government if the conditions were the same; namely the despot the perfectest individual of the human race, and his lease of life perpetual; but as a perishable, perfect man must die and leave his despotism in the hands of an imperfect successor, an earthly despotism is not merely a bad form of government, it is the worst form that is possible.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Novel (1889), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Part 3 “The Tale of the Lost Land,” ch. 10 “Beginnings of Civilization”

More about this quote: wist.info/twain-mark/85346/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #twain #marktwain #connecticutyankee #absolutepower #despotism #dictatorship #humannature #mortality #perfection #succession #tyranny

A quotation from John Adams

Let the human Mind loose. It must be loose; it will be loose. Superstition and Despotism cannot confine it.

John Adams (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801)
Letter (1816-11-13) to John Quincy Adams

More about this quote: wist.info/adams-john/6140/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #johnadams #despotism #dogma #freethought #freedom #liberty #orthodoxy #superstition #tyranny #freethinking

A quotation from Victor Hugo

Certainly the influence of the past is very strong at the present time; it is reviving, and this rejuvenation of a corpse is surprising. It is on the march, and it seems to be winning — a dead thing yet a conqueror! It comes with its army of superstitions, its sword, which is despotism, its banner, which is ignorance, and in recent years it has won ten battles. It advances, laughs, and threatens; it is at our door.
 
[Le passé, il est vrai, est très fort à l’heure où nous sommes. Il reprend. Ce rajeunissement d’un cadavre est surprenant. Le voici qui marche et qui vient. Il semble vainqueur ; ce mort est un conquérant. Il arrive avec sa légion, les superstitions, avec son épée, le despotisme, avec son drapeau, l’ignorance ; depuis quelque temps il a gagné dix batailles. Il avance, il menace, il rit, il est à nos portes.]

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer
Les Misérables, Part 4 “St. Denis,” Book 7 “Argot,” ch. 4 (4.7.4) (1862) [tr. Denny (1976)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/hugo-victor/78840/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #victorhugo #lesmiserables #lesmiz #despotism #ignorance #oppression #past #reaction #regress #superstition #threat #tyranny

A quotation from Washington

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those intrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power and proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position.

George Washington (1732-1799) American military leader, Founding Father, US President (1789-1797)
Essay (1796-09-18), “Farewell Address,” Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/washington-george/54…

#quote #quotes #quotation #ChecksAndBalances #Constitution #despotism #dictatorship #government #power #powercorrupts #separationofpowers #tyranny