--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It must be admitted that such things were…" description: "\"“It must be admitted that such things were common coin of the period. Kingdoms were often handed over to adolescents, whose absolute power fasinated th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/maurice-druon-22330_absolute-power_it-must-be-admitted-that-such-things-wer_2375485.jpg" --- # It must be admitted that such things were common coin of… ![“It must be admitted that such things were common coin of the period. Kingdoms were often handed over to adolescents, whose absolute power fasinated them as might a game. Hardly grown out of the age in which it is fun to tear the wings from flies, they might now amuse themselves by tearing the…” quote by Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/maurice-druon-22330_absolute-power_it-must-be-admitted-that-such-things-wer_2375485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/maurice-druon-22330_absolute-power_it-must-be-admitted-that-such-things-wer_2375485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/maurice-druon-22330_absolute-power_it-must-be-admitted-that-such-things-wer_2375485.jpg) > ““It must be admitted that such things were common coin of the period. Kingdoms were often handed over to adolescents, whose absolute power fasinated them as might a game. Hardly grown out of the age in which it is fun to tear the wings from flies, they might now amuse themselves by tearing the heads from men. Too young to fear or even imagine death, they would not hesitate to distribute it around them.”” [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power given to immature rulers leads to cruelty because they lack empathy and fear of death. **In simple terms:** Young rulers act cruelly. Key Takeaway Recognize the risks of youthful authority. Themes power immaturity cruelty politics Mood cautionary reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - historical analysis - leadership training - political risk assessment Key Concepts psychology authority morality Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prevent unqualified youth from gaining power? - What safeguards protect against abuse by inexperienced leaders? A Different Perspective Youthful leaders may lack the wisdom to temper power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-power/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) ## Related quotes > [ “Most of \[her ashes\] fell into the river in a long gray curtain. But some was caught by the wind and blown upward toward… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-cutter/most-of-her-ashes-fell-into-the-river-in-a-long-gray-curtain-but-some/) Kimberly Cutter > [“Court life for a queen of France at that time was, however, stultifyingly routine. Eleanor found that she was expected to be no more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-weir/court-life-for-a-queen-of-france-at-that-time-was-however/) [Alison Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-weir/) > [“In this martial world dominated by men, women had little place. 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The greatest danger to the lives of young black men are young black men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-bryant/the-epidemic-is-truly-black-on-black-crime-the-greatest-danger-to-the/) C.L. Bryant > [That is no country for old men. The young In one another's arms, birds in the trees - Those dying generations-at their song, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/that-is-no-country-for-old-men-the-young-in-one-another-s-arms-birds/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Old men are always young enough to learn with profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/old-men-are-always-young-enough-to-learn-with-profit/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [“As we walk away I know they’re watching, these two men who aren’t yet permitted to touch women. They touch with their eyes instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/as-we-walk-away-i-know-they-re-watching-these-two-men-who-aren-t-yet/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [For Age is not alone of time, or we should never see men old and bent at forty and men young at seventy-three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/for-age-is-not-alone-of-time-or-we-should-never-see-men-old-and-bent/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [Two remarkable men -- one young, one old -- fuel each other's spirits in the beautiful documentary Keep On Keepin' On.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/two-remarkable-men-one-young-one-old-fuel-each-other-s-spirits-in-the/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [I ask for your indulgence when I march out quotations. This is the double syndrome of men who write for a living and men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-ask-for-your-indulgence-when-i-march-out-quotations-this-is-the/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [Young men and young women, full of courage, originality, and genius, are everywhere to be met with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-crowninshield/young-men-and-young-women-full-of-courage-originality-and-genius-are/) [Frank Crowninshield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-crowninshield/) ## More by Maurice Druon > [Anarchy is as detestable in grammar as it is in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/anarchy-is-as-detestable-in-grammar-as-it-is-in-society/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [Socialist ideology is making France go to pot, and the French language with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/socialist-ideology-is-making-france-go-to-pot-and-the-french-language/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“A man who would agree to betray his own conscience for the sake of a mitre, might well also steal and betray.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/a-man-who-would-agree-to-betray-his-own-conscience-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“First love is the only pure and happy one. If it goes wrong, nothing can replace it. Later loves can never attain to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/first-love-is-the-only-pure-and-happy-one-if-it-goes-wrong-nothing/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“It is thus that imagination can in the end determine destiny, and it but needs our future actions to be given shape in speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/it-is-thus-that-imagination-can-in-the-end-determine-destiny-and-it/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [I love English. I learned it from the speeches of Winston Churchill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/i-love-english-i-learned-it-from-the-speeches-of-winston-churchill/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [Italian is the language of song. German is good for philosophy and English for poetry. 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You shall be accursed to the thirteenth generation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/accursed-accursed-you-shall-be-accursed-to-the-thirteenth-generation/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“Every man believes to some extent that the world began when he was born and, at the moment of leaving it, suffers at having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/every-man-believes-to-some-extent-that-the-world-began-when-he-was/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“It is to be remarked that, during this period, nearly all the women at the Court of France were called either Jeanne or Marguerite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/it-is-to-be-remarked-that-during-this-period-nearly-all-the-women-at/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [Number is the Word but is not utterance it is wave and light, though no one sees it it is rhythm and music, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/number-is-the-word-but-is-not-utterance-it-is-wave-and-light-though/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“The people are always prepared to shout on the side of power and to make a noise when it costs them nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/the-people-are-always-prepared-to-shout-on-the-side-of-power-and-to/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“Days lived, whether full or empty, whether busy or serene, are but days gone by, and the ashes of the past weigh the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/days-lived-whether-full-or-empty-whether-busy-or-serene-are-but-days/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“vous lui ressemblez,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/vous-lui-ressemblez/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) > [“Each one of us has his shining hour in the events of his century. On one occasion it may be Monseigneur of Kent, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-druon/each-one-of-us-has-his-shining-hour-in-the-events-of-his-century-on/) [Maurice Druon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) [Explore all 23 Maurice Druon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-druon/) ## More Absolute power quotes > [“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely-great/) [John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national-existence-the-law-of-the/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [Sometimes we like to think if we had power, that we would be different, and we would be omnipotent, but the truth is absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/sometimes-we-like-to-think-if-we-had-power-that-we-would-be-different/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [Absolute power, as we have always known, corrupts absolutely; it corrupts because it does not do the trick for the individual. Reality always creeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/absolute-power-as-we-have-always-known-corrupts-absolutely-it/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/unlimited-power-is-apt-to-corrupt-the-minds-of-those-who-possess-it/) [William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/) > [The Book of Job is advice on how to live in terms of the absolute power of nature. Leviathan is advice on how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-phillip-verene/the-book-of-job-is-advice-on-how-to-live-in-terms-of-the-absolute/) [Donald Phillip Verene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-phillip-verene/) > [God cannot approve of a system of servitude, in which the master is guilty of assuming absolute power - of assuming God's place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/god-cannot-approve-of-a-system-of-servitude-in-which-the-master-is/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [“With absolute power, corruption and evil seep in humanity, and that evil continues to flourish as the good of humankind lies idle in darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-absolute-power-corruption-and-evil-seep-in-humanity-and-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you are an eighteen or nineteen-year-old with little education, as is often the case, and you're put in charge of many, many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/if-you-are-an-eighteen-or-nineteen-year-old-with-little-education-as/) [Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/) > [“As history has also shown, especially in the twentieth century, one of the first things an ideologue will do after achieving absolute power is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/as-history-has-also-shown-especially-in-the-twentieth-century-one-of/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [We're taught Lord Acton's axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I believed that when I started these books, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/we-re-taught-lord-acton-s-axiom-all-power-corrupts-absolute-power/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Absolute power can only be supported by error, ignorance and prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/absolute-power-can-only-be-supported-by-error-ignorance-and-prejudice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Has justice ever grown in the soil of absolute power? Has not justice always come from the ... heart and spirit of men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/has-justice-ever-grown-in-the-soil-of-absolute-power-has-not-justice/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) [Browse all 180 Absolute power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It must be admitted that such things were common coin of the period. Kingdoms were often handed over to adolescents, whose absolute power fasinated them as might a game. Hardly grown out of the age in which it is fun to tear the wings from flies, they might now amuse themselves by tearing the heads from men. 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