Best Government Quotes by Algernon Sidney

If vice and corruption prevail, liberty cannot subsist; but if virtue have the advantage, arbitrary power cannot be established.

— Algernon Sidney

Machiavel, discoursing on these matters, finds virtue to be so essentially necessary to the establishment and preservation of liberty, that he thinks it impossible…

— Algernon Sidney

Men lived like fishes; the great ones devoured the small.

— Algernon Sidney

[A]ll popular and well-mixed governments [republics] . . . are ever established by wise and good men, and can never be upheld otherwise than…

— Algernon Sidney

Everyone sees they cannot well live asunder, nor many together, without some rule to which all must submit.

— Algernon Sidney

For violence or fraud can create no right.

— Algernon Sidney

It is not necessary to light a candle to the sun

— Algernon Sidney

Many things are unknown to the wisest, and the best men can never wholly divest themselves of passions and affections... nothing can or ought…

— Algernon Sidney

If his Majesty is resolved to have my head, he may make a whistle of my arse if he pleases.

— Algernon Sidney

Violence and fraud can create no right.

— Algernon Sidney

That which is not just, is not Law; and that which is not Law, ought not to be obeyed.

— Algernon Sidney

[L]iberty cannot be preserved, if the manners of the people are corrupted . . .

— Algernon Sidney

Liberty cannot be preserved, if the manners of the people are corrupted.

— Algernon Sidney

Liars need to have good memories.

— Algernon Sidney

[I]f vice and corruption prevail, liberty cannot subsist; but if virtue have the advantage, arbitrary power cannot be established.

— Algernon Sidney