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”
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Quotations about:
succession
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Nothing flourishes for ever; each generation gives place to its successor.
[Nihil enim semper floret; aetas succedit aetati.]
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 11, ch. 15 / sec. 39 (11.15/11.39) (43-02 BC) [ed. Harbottle (1897)]
(Source)
(Source (Latin)). Other translations:For there is nothing which flourishes for ever. Age succeeds age.
[tr. Yonge (1903)]For nothing is for ever flourishing; age succeeds to age.
[tr. Ker (Loeb) (1926)]
Just as a savage will sacrifice his whole subsistence to his hunger, the despot sacrifices his authority to his love of power; his reign devours the reign of his successors.
[Comme le sauvage sacrifie sa subsistance à sa faim, le despote sacrifie sa puissance à son pouvoir; son règne dévore le règne de ses successeurs.]
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French moralist, philosopher, essayist, poet
Pensées [Thoughts], ch. 14 “Des Gouvernements [On Governments],” ¶ 16 (1850 ed.) [tr. Lyttelton (1899), ch. 13, ¶ 7]
(Source)
(Source (French)). No other translations of the thought found amongst those consulted.
When one is past, another care we have:
Thus woe succeeds a woe, as wave a wave.
All is change; all yields its place and goes.
Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Heracles (421-416 B.C.)
Thus times do shift, each thing his turn does hold;
New things succeed, as former things grow old.Robert Herrick (1591–1674) English poet
“Ceremonies for Candlemas Eve,” Hesperides, # 892 (1648)
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The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.
Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American journalist and author
“Roosevelt Has Gone,” “Today and Tomorrow” column (14 Apr 1945)
On the death of Franklin Roosevelt.
