---
title: "1 Rule Empire Quotes By Ronald Syme"
description: "1 Rule Empire quotes by Ronald Syme. Plus more from Ronald Syme and more Rule Empire sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/ronald-syme-59197_democracy_a-democracy-cannot-rule-an-empire-neithe_2263580.jpg"
---

> [“A democracy cannot rule an empire. Neither can one man, though empire may appear to presuppose monarchy. There is always an oligarchy somewhere, open or concealed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-syme/a-democracy-cannot-rule-an-empire-neither-can-one-man-though-empire/)

[Ronald Syme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-syme/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/ronald-syme-59197_democracy_a-democracy-cannot-rule-an-empire-neithe_2263580.jpg)

## More by Ronald Syme

> [The strength and vitality of an empire is frequently due to the new aristocracy from the periphery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-syme/the-strength-and-vitality-of-an-empire-is-frequently-due-to-the-new/)

[Ronald Syme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-syme/)

> [Pietas prevailed, and out of the blood of Caesar the monarchy was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-syme/pietas-prevailed-and-out-of-the-blood-of-caesar-the-monarchy-was-born/)

[Ronald Syme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-syme/)

> [“A democracy cannot rule an empire. Neither can one man, though empire may appear to presuppose monarchy. There is always an oligarchy somewhere, open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-syme/a-democracy-cannot-rule-an-empire-neither-can-one-man-though-empire/)

[Ronald Syme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-syme/)

> [Crassus was in the habit of maintaining that nobody should be called rich who was not able to maintain an army on his income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-syme/crassus-was-in-the-habit-of-maintaining-that-nobody-should-be-called/)

[Ronald Syme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-syme/)

> [Women have their uses for historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-syme/women-have-their-uses-for-historians/)

[Ronald Syme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-syme/)

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