Tag Archives: Despotism

Thought For the Day: A Great Civilization Is Not Conquered From Without, Until It Has Destroyed Itself From Within

“A great civilization is not conquered from without, until it has destroyed itself from within. The essential causes of Rome’s decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggle, her failing trade, her bureaucratic despotism, her stifling taxes, her … Continue reading

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Despotism Often Presents Itself As the Repairer of All the Ills Suffered, the Support of Just Rights, Defender of the Oppressed, and Founder of Order

“Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of order.” – Alexis de Tocqueville — Anyone who has not yet cast their ballot in this … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: An Elective Despotism Was Not the Government We Fought For; But One In Which the Powers of Government Should Be Divided and Balanced

“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies of magistracy as that no one could transcend their legal limits without … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: How Prone All Human Institutions Have Been To Decay;…Impelled As It Were By An Irresistable Fate of Despotism

“How prone all human institutions have been to decay; how subject the best-formed and most wisely organized governments have been to lose their check and totally dissolve; how difficult it has been for mankind, in all ages and countries, to … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: How Difficult It Is For Mankind…To Preserve Their Dearest Rights and Best Privileges, Impelled As It Were By an Irresistible Fate of Despotism

“How difficult it has been for mankind, in all ages and countries, to preserve their dearest rights and best privileges, impelled as it were by an irresistible fate of despotism.” – James Monroe (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: How Difficult It Has Been For Mankind… To Preserve Their Dearest Rights and Best Privileges, Impelled As It Were By An Irresistible Fate of Despotism

“How prone all human institutions have been to decay; how subject the best-formed and most wisely organized governments have been to lose their check and totally dissolve; how difficult it has been for mankind, in all ages and countries, to … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: If Men Use Their Liberty In Such A Way As To Surrender Their Liberty, Are They Thereafter Any the Less Slaves?

“If men use their liberty in such a way as to surrender their liberty, are they thereafter any the less slaves? If people by a plebiscite elect a man despot over them, do they remain free because the despotism was … Continue reading

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Real Liberty Is Neither Found In Despotism Or the Extremes of Democracy, But In Moderate Governments

“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.” – Alexander Hamilton

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Greater the Miracles

The Greater the Miraclesby Michael DoyleReligion it seems is love’s emotionPersonified and adhered to with devotionFor a person who lives life without reasonHas committed the most personal of treasonsIn the Grand Inquisitor we find rarified poetryIn which passions are taken … Continue reading

Posted in Poetry and Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From the Perspective of the Rus

From the Perspective of the Rusby Michael DoyleStanding on the shoulders of wisdomBy each step we build separate kingdomsThe Brothers Karamazov built on a grain of wheatThat life comes from death and death is not defeatAll the suffering that we … Continue reading

Posted in Poetry and Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment