Rulers Quotes - Page 14

• The aim of every political Constitution, is or ought to be first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.

  James Madison

  Trust, Men, Political

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2003). “The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus”, p.277, Cambridge University Press

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• In imperialism nothing fails like success. If the conqueror oppresses his subjects, they will become fanatical patriots, and sooner or later have their revenge; if he treats them well, and governs them for their good, they will multiply faster than their rulers, till they claim their independence.

  William Ralph Inge

  Revenge, Independence, Revolution

  William Ralph Inge (1920). “Outspoken Essays”

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• All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.

  Napoleon Bonaparte

  World, Opinion, Easy

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• If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.

  Sun Tzu

  War, Fighting, Victory

  Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.24, Lulu.com

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• Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

  Sun Tzu

  Art, War, Enlightened

  Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.29, Lulu.com

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• No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.

  Sun Tzu

  Art, War, Fighting

  Sun Tzu, General Press (2016). “The Art of War”, p.61, GENERAL PRESS

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• There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune on his army: By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army. By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds. By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.

  Sun Tzu

  Art, Military, War

  Sun Tzu (2010). “The Art of War”, p.10, Cosimo, Inc.

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• An enlightened ruler doesnot worry about people not knowing him; he worriesabout not knowing people.

  Zhuge Liang

  Leadership, Art, War

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• Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Art, War, Men

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.56, Knickerbocker Classics

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• When your weapons are dulled and ardour damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighboring rulers will take advantage of your distress to act. And even though you have wise counsellors, none will be able to lay good plans for the future. Thus, while we have heard of blundering swiftness in war, we have not yet seen a clever operation that was prolonged.

  Sun Tzu

  Wise, Clever, War

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• If one holds these high principles clearly before one's eyes, and compares them with the life and spirit of our times, then it appears glaringly that civilized mankind finds itself at present in grave danger. In the totalitarian states it is the rulers themselves who strive actually to destroy that spirit of humanity. In less threatened parts it is nationalism and intolerance, as well as the oppression of the individuals by economic means, which threaten to choke these most precious traditions.

  Albert Einstein

  Religious, Mean, Eye

  Albert Einstein (2011). “Out of My Later Years: The Scientist, Philosopher, and Man Portrayed Through His Own Words”, p.21, Open Road Media

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• That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and eternal God, to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world; and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall, in no ways, be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion, or practice, in manners of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever.

  William Penn

  Religious, Practice, Liberty

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• Our liberty depends on our education, our laws, and habits . . . it is founded on morals and religion, whose authority reigns in the heart, and on the influence all these produce on public opinion before that opinion governs rulers.

  Fisher Ames

  Heart, Law, Liberty

  Fisher Ames (1835). “The influences of democracy on liberty, property, and the happiness of society, considered”, p.138

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• Those (who) seek to establish systems of Government based on the regimentation of all Human Beings by a handful of individual rulers...call this a new order. It is not new and it is not order.

  Franklin D. Roosevelt

  Government, Order, Liberty

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• ...but let it suffice us to know that it became God, who is the supreme Ruler, Governor and Judge of all that sin should be punished with death in the sinner or his surety; and therefore if God would bring many sons to glory, the Captain of their salvation must undergo sufferings and death, to make satisfaction for them.

  John Owen

  Son, Suffering And Death, Judging

  John Owen “Epistle to the Hebrews”, Kregel Publications

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• The laws by which the Divine Ruler of the universe has decreed an indissoluble connection between public happiness and private virtue, whatever apparent exceptions may delude our short-sighted judgments, never fail to vindicate their supremacy and immutability.

  William Cabell Rives

  Law, Liberty, Connections

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• Rulers do not like to admit that their power is restricted by any laws other than those of physics and biology. They never ascribe their failures and frustrations to the violation of economic law.

  Ludwig von Mises

  Frustration, Law, Liberty

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• Father eternal, ruler of creation, Spirit of life, which moved ere form was made Through the thick darkness covering every nation Light to man's blindness, O be Thou our aid.

  Laurence Housman

  Life, Father, Men

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• It may be that today gold has become the exclusive ruler of life, but the time will come when man will again bow down before a higher god.

  Adolf Hitler

  Religious, Men, Gold

  Adolf Hitler (1998). “Mein Kampf”, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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• Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them.

  James Madison

  Men, Ideas, People

  James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.24, University of Virginia Press

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• It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which they have bled. It must be the combined virtue of the rulers and of the people to do this, and to rescue and save their civil and religious rights from the outstretched arm of tyranny, which may appear under any mode or form of government.

  Mercy Otis Warren

  Religious, Rights, Government

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• Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly understood it is sacred next to those which we appropriate in divine adoration; but in the mouths of some it means anything, which enervate a necessary government; excite a jealousy of the rulers who are our own choice, and keep society in confusion for want of a power sufficiently concentered to promote good.

  Oliver Ellsworth

  Freedom, Mean, Government

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• He whom you see-along the downward arc- was William, and the land that mourns his death, for living Charles and Frederick, now laments; now he has learned how Heaven loves the just ruler, and he would show this outwardly as well, so radiantly visible.

  Dante Alighieri

  Love, Land, Heaven

  Dante Alighieri (2016). “Paradiso”, p.182, Bantam Classics

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• O Winter, ruler of the inverted year!

  William Cowper

  Winter, Years, Inverted

  William Cowper (1856). “The task, Table talk, and other poems: With critical observations of various authors on his genius and character, and notes, critical and illustrative”, p.220

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• O Winter! ruler of the inverted year, . . . I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturbed Retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted evening, know.

  William Cowper

  Retirement, Kings, Home

  William Cowper (1854). “Poetical Works”, p.12

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