--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not because a part of the…" description: "\"It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so elected, possess afterwards, as a parliament,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/thomas-paine-267_candidates_it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-governme_272327.png" --- # It is not because a part of the government is elective… ![“It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so elected, possess afterwards, as a parliament, unlimited powers. Election, in this case, becomes separated from representation, and the candidates are candidates for despotism.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/thomas-paine-267_candidates_it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-governme_272327.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/thomas-paine-267_candidates_it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-governme_272327.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/thomas-paine-267_candidates_it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-governme_272327.png) > “It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so elected, possess afterwards, as a parliament, unlimited powers. Election, in this case, becomes separated from representation, and the candidates are candidates for despotism.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Electoral power without limits can turn a government into tyranny, regardless of elections. **In simple terms:** Elections alone don’t prevent despotism. Key Takeaway Guard against unchecked authority. Themes politics power government tyranny Mood cautionary critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legislative reform - constitutional safeguards - public oversight - civic education Key Concepts democratic theory constitutional limits separation of powers Questions to Reflect On - What checks can prevent abuse? - How to ensure representation remains true? A Different Perspective Power can still concentrate despite elections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Unlimited power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited-power/) ## Related quotes > [The government should train and direct the people in their acquisition of political knowledge and ability, thereby enabling them to exercise the powers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-yat-sen/the-government-should-train-and-direct-the-people-in-their/) [Sun Yat-sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-yat-sen/) > [Two persons have been elected to the offices of President and Vice-President exclusively by the people of ONE SECTION of the country...A clearer case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-willis-ellis/two-persons-have-been-elected-to-the-offices-of-president-and-vice/) John Willis Ellis > [There are persons who elected to give their existence to God. They are happy, happy in their self-giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-persons-who-elected-to-give-their-existence-to-god-they-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [By giving the government unlimited powers, the most arbitrary rule can be made legal; and in this way a democracy may set up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/by-giving-the-government-unlimited-powers-the-most-arbitrary-rule-can/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [“for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/for-so-unlimited-a-power-can-belong-only-to-god/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/of-all-the-systems-of-religion-that-ever-were-invented-there-is-no-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-strength-and-power-of-despotism-consists-wholly-in-the-fear-of/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Toleration is not the opposite of intoleration, but it is the counterfeit of it. Both are despotisms. The one assumes to itself the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/toleration-is-not-the-opposite-of-intoleration-but-it-is-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [It's your unlimited power to care and to love that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/it-s-your-unlimited-power-to-care-and-to-love-that-can-make-the/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I was actually telling people that - by harnessing the atom - we could enter a new era of unlimited power that would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/i-was-actually-telling-people-that-by-harnessing-the-atom-we-could/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/there-is-nothing-more-corrupting-nothing-more-destructive-of-the/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [Unlimited power corrupts the possessor; and this I know, that, where law ends, there tyranny begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/unlimited-power-corrupts-the-possessor-and-this-i-know-that-where-law/) [William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/) > [“Within all beings resides the unlimited power of the creative soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-corsen/within-all-beings-resides-the-unlimited-power-of-the-creative-soul/) Kate Corsen > [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/) > [I believe in the unlimited power of women in the context of science and engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/i-believe-in-the-unlimited-power-of-women-in-the-context-of-science/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Candidates quotes > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Progressive Conservative candidates from Quebec want to exert real power in Ottawa, not simply be content with playing a secondary role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-campbell/progressive-conservative-candidates-from-quebec-want-to-exert-real/) [Kim Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-campbell/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [Jeb Bush was supposed to be the establishment candidate, but he didn't catch on. And the extraordinary thing about this Republican primary is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-liasson/jeb-bush-was-supposed-to-be-the-establishment-candidate-but-he-didn-t/) [Mara Liasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-liasson/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [It is time Britain put its trust back into the Labour Party. I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [I like candidates who tell me something that is going to make a difference to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/i-like-candidates-who-tell-me-something-that-is-going-to-make-a/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [The reason that minorities and women don't have a better shot at getting elected to the Senate or to statewide office is because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/the-reason-that-minorities-and-women-don-t-have-a-better-shot-at/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) > [Hillary Clinton is the least popular candidate for president ever except for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pickering/hillary-clinton-is-the-least-popular-candidate-for-president-ever/) Charlie Pickering > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken American politics by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-has-taken-american/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) Browse all 1,251 Candidates quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so elected, possess afterwards, as a parliament, unlimited powers. Election, in this case, becomes separated from representation, and the candidates are candidates for despotism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Paine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-government-is-elective-that-makes-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candidates" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-government-is-elective-that-makes-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/thomas-paine-267_candidates_it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-governme_272327.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/thomas-paine-267_candidates_it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-governme_272327.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/thomas-paine-267_candidates_it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-governme_272327.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so…” — Thomas Paine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Paine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not because a part...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-government-is-elective-that-makes-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-government-is-elective-that-makes-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```