English Parliament Quotes

Old forms of government finally grow so oppressive, that they must be thrown off even at the risk of reigns of terror.

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find that far more, and far more hideous, crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.

We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed.

I would not like a king who could obey.

Unmindful of the solemn duties of his office, and contrary to the sacred obligation, did conduct himself in a manner highly arbitrary, oppressive, and unjust.

Lord chancellors and judges and other magistrates have not only been impeached for bribery, and acting grossly contrary to the duties of their office, but for misleading their sovereign by unconstitutional opinions, and for attempts to subvert the fundamental laws and introduce arbitrary power.

… high crimes and misdemeanors …

Tyranny must be opposed at the start. Autocracy, once secured in the saddle, is difficult to dislodge.

In all tyrannical governments the supreme magistracy, or the right both of making and of enforcing the laws, is vested in one and the same man, or one and the same body of men; and whenever these two powers are united together, there can be no public liberty.

I believe in benevolent dictatorships, provided I am the dictator.

A tyrant is a man who sacrifices a whole nation to his ideal or his ambition.

The government of a single person is no assurance of a stable and tranquil government.

No one can go on being a rebel too long without becoming an autocrat.

Bad as despotism is, doomed as it is to work its own ruin, the first fruits of its overthrow are not love and liberty.

this monster, this Colossus of Despotism ... a deep laid scheme to enslave us.

The benevolent despot who sees himself as a shepherd of the people still demands of others the submissiveness of sheep.

The worst of tyrants, an usurping crowd.

In an absolute government there can be no... equiponderant parties. The despot is the government.

... a tissue of machinations against the liberties of the country.

In domestic as in political tyranny, the case of absolute monsters chiefly illustrates the institution by showing that there is scarcely any horror which may not occur under it if the despot pleases

When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, ... that is tyranny.

Enormous monarchies are probably destructive to human nature in their progress, in their continuance and even in their own downfall.

… the tools of despotism and corruption

Citizens, we have reason to fear that the Revolution, like Saturn, will successively devour all its children, and only produce despotism and the calamities which accompany it.