Mary Antin Quotes

That which killed my late master, & so many of his predecessors. The responsibility of arbitrary power.

The king of England doth lay but his little finger upon his subjects when other princes and states do lay their heavy loins upon their people.

Those who have by an unrighteous power made merchandise of the earth, giving all to some, & none to others, declare themselves tyranicall & usurping.

Unjust rule never lasts continually over time

Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.

Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.

One leader, one people, signifies one master and millions of slaves.

A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character.

The Georges were fair; they left all to the Government; but Anne was very bad and a tyrant. She tyrannised over the Irish. She died broken-hearted with all the bad things that were going on about her. For Queen Anne was very wicked; oh, very wicked, indeed!

Feelings of marginalization and cries of separation are symptomatic of countries where rulers find power sweet and intoxicating, where power is coveted, and when acquired, painstakingly guarded.

the Distress of our oppressed Country, which now unjustly feels the baneful Effects of arbitrary Power.

The worst of tyrants, an usurping crowd.

To live by one man's will became the cause of all men's misery.

Necessity, the tyrant's plea.

When the people are sheep, the government is always a wolf.

Monarchy is in itself irrational, evil government, unless over those who are naturally beasts and slaves.

... the keynote of government is injustice.

Despotism is unjust to everybody, including the despot, who was probably made for better things.

In England, one without a trace of Royalty will master. Twenty months he will rule; twenty months he will bleed the lands, then his end comes quickly.

Any excuse will serve a tyrant.

If monarchy is corrupting - and it is - wait till you see what overt empire does to us.

But after the spirit of conquest had changed the first governments, all the succeeding ones have, in general, proved one continued series of injustice, which has reigned in all countries for almost four thousand years.

Our authorities leave us no doubt that the trust lodged with the oligarchy was sometimes abused, but it certainly ought not to be regarded as a mere usurpation or engine of tyranny.

A collective tyrant, spread over the length and breadth of the land, is no more acceptable than a single tyrant ensconced on his throne.

It is not good to have a rule of many.