#rulers

In the first place, most princes apply themselves to the arts of war, in which I have neither ability nor interest, instead of to the good arts of peace. They are generally more set on acquiring new kingdoms by hook or by crook than on governing well those that they already have. ↗

— Thomas More

#government #human-nature #peace #rulers #war

Some legislators only wish to vengeance against a particular enemy. Others only look out for themselves. They devote very little time on the consideration of any public issue. They think that no harm will come from their neglect. They act as if it is always the business of somebody else to look after this or that. When this selfish notion is entertained by all, the commonwealth slowly begins to decay. ↗

— Thucydides

#governments #rulers #business

In the games of queens and kings, we leave our dreams at the door and we make do with what we have. Sometimes if we’re fortunate, we still manage to have a good life. ↗

— Melina Marchetta

#kings #lives #loss #queens #rulership

Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; they are but the instruments of the wise. ↗

— Samuel Lover

#instruments #rulers #weak #wise

The world is ruled by cowards and cravens; brave men have put them there. ↗

— Damon Meredith

#coward #cowardice #government #leaders #leadership

Princes always are always happy to see developing among their subjects the taste for agreeable arts and for superfluities which do not result in the export of money. For quite apart from the fact that with these they nourish that spiritual pettiness so appropriate for servitude, they know very well that all the needs which people give themselves are so many chains binding them. When Alexander wished to keep the Ichthyophagi dependent on him, he forced them to abandon fishing and to nourish themselves on foods common to other people. And no one has been able to subjugate the savages in America, who go around quite naked and live only from what their hunting provides. In fact, what yoke could be imposed on men who have no need of anything? ↗

— Jean-Jacques Rousseau

#america #rulers #art

In the privacy of my dreams, I'm a warrior. ↗

— Kimberly Derting

#fantasy #kings #queens #rulers #social-class

You should not do this, Comrade. We are only in the introductory stage yet, here in Western Europe. And in that stage it is better to encourage the fighters than the rulers. ↗

— Herman Gorter

#comrade #encourage #europe #fighters #here

The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them. ↗

— Patrick Henry

#ever #liberties #may #never #nor

It is our grave mistake that for many years we neglected pro-Western groups in order to avoid any friction with the existing rulers. ↗

— Jose Maria Aznar

#avoid #existing #friction #grave #groups