Freedom Quote by Philip Hamburger
““Roger Twysden—a mid-seventeenth-century commentator—observed, “This maxim, that the king cannot alone alter the law” is “the basis or ground of all the liberty and franchise of the subject.” The alternative seemed dire: “I cannot imagine how the subject can have any thing sure and lasting in any government where that power only depends on the monarch’s will.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of the Modern State, Philip Hamburger, 2002
The quote argues that a monarch’s sole power to change law threatens liberty because subjects need stable, predictable governance.
In simple terms: Absolute monarch power undermines freedom.
Key Takeaway
Guard against unchecked royal authority.
Themes
politics
law
liberty
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government reform
- constitutional design
- civil rights advocacy
Key Concepts
constitutionalism
sovereignty
subject rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies ensure law stability without a single ruler?
- What safeguards protect subjects from arbitrary rule?
A Different Perspective
Power alone cannot guarantee lasting security for citizens.
