Century Quote by Thomas Carlyle
“Might and right do differ frightfully from hour to hour, but then centuries to try it in, they are found to be identical.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Signs of the Times, 1849
Power and moral right often seem to change, but over centuries they become indistinguishable.
In simple terms: Power and right appear to shift, yet they merge over time.
Key Takeaway
Question the link between power and morality.
Themes
politics
ethics
history
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- social movements
- legal reforms
Key Concepts
philosophy
social theory
justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern true justice?
- What historical examples show this merge?
A Different Perspective
Power can masquerade as moral right, misleading societies.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
