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The king is as much bound by his oath not to infringe the…

“The king is as much bound by his oath not to infringe the legal rights of the people, as the people are bound to yield subjection to him. From whence it follows that as soon as the prince sets himself above the law, he loses the king in the tyrant. He does, to all intents and purposes, un-king…” quote by Jonathan Mayhew
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“The king is as much bound by his oath not to infringe the legal rights of the people, as the people are bound to yield subjection to him. From whence it follows that as soon as the prince sets himself above the law, he loses the king in the tyrant. He does, to all intents and purposes, un-king himself.”

Jonathan Mayhew

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A ruler must respect legal limits; if he exceeds them, he becomes a tyrant and loses legitimacy.

In simple terms: Kings must obey law or become tyrants.

Key Takeaway

Uphold law to retain rightful authority.

Themes

law authority tyranny legitimacy

Mood

serious reflective

Type

political historical

When to use this quote

  • government leadership
  • judicial decisions
  • public policy
  • civil rights

Key Concepts

social contract rule of law political philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do societies enforce limits on power?
  • What mechanisms prevent tyranny?
A Different Perspective

Even lawful rulers can become oppressive without checks.

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