--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There be three sorts of…" description: "\"There be three sorts of government--monarchical, aristocratical, democratical; and they are apt to fall three several ways into ruin--the first, by tyr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_there-be-three-sorts-of-government-monar_1659078.jpg" --- # There be three sorts of government--monarchical… ![“There be three sorts of government--monarchical, aristocratical, democratical; and they are apt to fall three several ways into ruin--the first, by tyranny; the second, by ambition; the last, by tumults. A commonwealth grounded upon any one of these is not of long continuance; but, wisely mingled…” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_there-be-three-sorts-of-government-monar_1659078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_there-be-three-sorts-of-government-monar_1659078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/francis-quarles-1740_ambition_there-be-three-sorts-of-government-monar_1659078.jpg) > “There be three sorts of government--monarchical, aristocratical, democratical; and they are apt to fall three several ways into ruin--the first, by tyranny; the second, by ambition; the last, by tumults. A commonwealth grounded upon any one of these is not of long continuance; but, wisely mingled, each guards the other and makes that government exact.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Three forms of government each have distinct risks of collapse; balanced mixed government can mitigate these risks **In simple terms:** All governments can fail; mixing types can help Key Takeaway Avoid single‑type rule; seek balanced governance Themes politics history philosophy Mood reflective critical Type philosophical political analysis When to use this quote - constitutional design - civic education - public debate - policy reform Key Concepts checks and balances political stability power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What balance works best today? - Can mixed systems prevent tyranny? A Different Perspective Pure systems may be idealistic and impractical in reality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Continuance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuance/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Monarchical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-monarchical-738567/) [Grounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grounded/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Ruin Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin-tyranny-738569/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Tumult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tumult/) [Tumults Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tumults-commonwealth-738568/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [That was a continuance of what we have seen most of the season - that is, various clubs beating each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-noades/that-was-a-continuance-of-what-we-have-seen-most-of-the-season-that/) [Ron Noades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-noades/) > [Faith in the continuance and enhancement of the intrinsic values--faith in truth, in beauty, in friendship, in love and harmony of life--in short, faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alexander-leighton/faith-in-the-continuance-and-enhancement-of-the-intrinsic-values/) [Joseph Alexander Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alexander-leighton/) > [“War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. Armies are not called out to dig trenches, to throw up breastworks, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stonewall-jackson/war-means-fighting-the-business-of-the-soldier-is-to-fight-armies-are/) [Stonewall Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stonewall-jackson/) > [“Even so, your Heavenly Father says “surely…”—He gives you a certainty that you can count on! It is a promise of continuance. Notice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chappell/even-so-your-heavenly-father-says-surely-he-gives-you-a-certainty/) [Stephen Chappell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chappell/) > [There is nothing more important than writing well for the young, if literature is to have a continuance ... They will inherit the earth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-paton-walsh/there-is-nothing-more-important-than-writing-well-for-the-young-if/) [Jill Paton Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-paton-walsh/) > [Honor, riches, marriage-blessing Long continuance, and increasing, Hourly joys be still upon you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honor-riches-marriage-blessing-long-continuance-and-increasing-hourly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The standard of good behavior for the continuance in office of the judicial magistracy is certainly one of the most valuable of the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-standard-of-good-behavior-for-the-continuance-in-office-of-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Creation differs from subsistence only as the first leap of a fountain differs from its continuance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/creation-differs-from-subsistence-only-as-the-first-leap-of-a/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Let us invoke a continuance of the same protecting care which has led us from small beginnings to the eminence we this day occupy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/let-us-invoke-a-continuance-of-the-same-protecting-care-which-has-led/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) > [In conclusion I congratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the high state of prosperity to which the goodness of Divine Providence has conducted our common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/in-conclusion-i-congratulate-you-my-fellow-citizens-upon-the-high/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) > [Man, who preys both on the vegetable and animal species, is himself a prey to neither. He too possesses the reproductive principle far beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/man-who-preys-both-on-the-vegetable-and-animal-species-is-himself-a/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“Life is ever reaching for strength, vitality, survival and the fulfillment of perpetuating its inherent message of continuance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/life-is-ever-reaching-for-strength-vitality-survival-and-the/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [When great men permit themselves to be cast down by the continuance of misfortune, they show us that they were only sustained by ambition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/when-great-men-permit-themselves-to-be-cast-down-by-the-continuance/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The desire is thy prayers; and if thy desire is without ceasing, thy prayer will also be without ceasing. The continuance of your longing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-desire-is-thy-prayers-and-if-thy-desire-is-without-ceasing-thy/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [One would wonder to hear skeptical men disputing for the reason of animals, and telling us it is only our pride and prejudices that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/one-would-wonder-to-hear-skeptical-men-disputing-for-the-reason-of/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/read-not-books-alone-but-men-and-amongst-them-chiefly-thyself/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Explore all 212 Francis Quarles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There be three sorts of government--monarchical, aristocratical, democratical; and they are apt to fall three several ways into ruin--the first, by tyranny; the second, by ambition; the last, by tumults. 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