Algernon Sidney Quotes

Be virtuous and you will be vicious.

Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.

Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.

Power is not alluring to pure minds.

The consent of the governed" is more than a safeguard against ignorant tyrants: it is an insurance against benevolent despots as well.

I myself have constantly refused to print anything that might countenance vice or promote immorality, though … I might have gotten much money.

Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.

Virtue is necessary to a republic.

Sin ought to be something exquisite, my dear boy.

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.

Corruption never has been compulsory; when the cities lie at the monster's feet there are left the mountains.

The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.

Corruption wins not more than honesty.

I consider nothing low but ignorance, vice, and meanness, characteristics generally found where the animal propensities predominate over the higher sentiments.

The just man walks in his integrity

He who seeks to regulate everything by law, is more likely to arouse vices than to reform them. It is best to grant what cannot be abolished, even though it be in itself harmful.

What is the purpose of our might if we do not use it for good.

Democracy or Anti-Democracy

Our democracy has been marred by imperialism.

Freedom is not the liberty do anything whatsoever. It is the freedom to do good

He is only honest who is not discovered.

In a democracy, power implies responsibility.