--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yet the arts of Severus cannot be…" description: "\"Yet the arts of Severus cannot be justified by the most ample privileges of state reason. He promised only to betray; he flattered only to ruin; and ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/edward-gibbon-710_art_yet-the-arts-of-severus-cannot-be-justif_2677379.png" --- # Yet the arts of Severus cannot be justified by the most… ![“Yet the arts of Severus cannot be justified by the most ample privileges of state reason. He promised only to betray; he flattered only to ruin; and however he might occasionally bind himself by oaths and treaties, his conscience, obsequious to his interest, always released him from the…” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/edward-gibbon-710_art_yet-the-arts-of-severus-cannot-be-justif_2677379.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/edward-gibbon-710_art_yet-the-arts-of-severus-cannot-be-justif_2677379.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e5/edward-gibbon-710_art_yet-the-arts-of-severus-cannot-be-justif_2677379.png) > “Yet the arts of Severus cannot be justified by the most ample privileges of state reason. He promised only to betray; he flattered only to ruin; and however he might occasionally bind himself by oaths and treaties, his conscience, obsequious to his interest, always released him from the inconvenient obligation.” [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political power can be corrupted by self‑interest, leading to betrayal despite formal oaths. **In simple terms:** Power corrupts and leads to betrayal. Key Takeaway Beware of self‑interest in politics. Themes politics corruption betrayal Mood critical analytical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - government - diplomacy - historical analysis Key Concepts ethics statecraft Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent betrayal? - How does self‑interest manifest in modern politics? A Different Perspective Not all leaders are corrupt; context varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Arts Severus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arts-severus-2552346/) [Betray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Obsequious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-obsequious-2552343/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Flattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattered/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Inconvenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconvenient/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Justified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justified/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Promised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-promised-2552344/) [Roman empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-empire/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Severus Justified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severus-justified-2552342/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Treaties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaties/) [Treaties Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaties-conscience-2552345/) ## Related quotes > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. 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