George Sutherland Quotes

Rulers come and go; governments end and forms of government change; but sovereignty survives.

No government, be it the most perfect, can stand without strong executive authority.

Sovereignty resides originally in the people, and in each individual with regard to himself; and that it is the transferring and uniting the several rights of individuals in the person of the sovereign, that constitutes him such, and really produces sovereignty.

In no form of government is there an absolute identity of interest between the people and their rulers

The civilized world needs to think about a decision when single politicians are not allowed to stay in power.

No one is king by his own power.

If the people be governors, who shall be governed?

What is a government for except to dictate. If it does not dictate, then it is not a government.

You need a head of state--with continuity. Sometimes this is more important than political power.

If, for the smallest faults, the people had a right to resist or depose their sovereign, no prince could maintain his authority, and the community would be continually distracted; such a situation would be directly contrary both to the end and institution of government, and of sovereignty. It is therefore right to overlook the lesser faults of sovereigns, and to have a regard to the laborious and exalted office, with which they are invested for our preservation

No man ruleth safely but that he is willingly ruled.

We submit ourselves to rulers only if under rules.

The greatest power is not money power, but political power.

Well, surely, I am not in charge of South Africa.

When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

We have come from the divine right of kings to the divine right of the governed.

In parliamentary and presidential democracies, the chief executive has been elevated from first among equals to the status of a monarch.

The government is formed and the seat of power is safe.

The World is governed too much.

The people who own the country ought to govern it.

In government it is order that matters.

I am available for kings and queens but not banana republic presidents.

Rather than living in a democracy, we are living in a benevolent oligarchy.

Nothing can be imagined better, or more perfect, than the administration of a virtuous man. Besides, when a single man is master, it is more difficult for the enemy to discover his secret counsels and resolutions. When the government is in the hands of many, it is impossible but enmity and hatred must arise among them; for, as every one desires his opinion to be followed, they gradually become mutual enemies