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Single Idea 21097
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy
]
Full Idea
In modern times monarchical government seems to have made the greatest advances towards perfection. It may now be affirmed of civilized monarchies, what was formerly said in praise of republics alone, that they are a government of laws, not of men.
Gist of Idea
Modern monarchies are (like republics) rule by law, rather than by men
Source
David Hume (Of Civil Liberty [1750], p.54)
Book Ref
Hume,David: 'Selected Essays' [OUP 1996], p.54
A Reaction
Dreams of simple 'government by law' disappeared with the rise of modern media, which can be controlled by wealth.
The
21 ideas
with the same theme
[hereditary or elected lifetime leader]:
8240
|
A true king shares his pleasure with the people
[Mengzi (Mencius)]
|
22541
|
Kings should be selected according to character
[Aristotle]
|
19936
|
Kings tend to fight wars for glory, rather than for peace and liberty
[Spinoza]
|
19937
|
Monarchs are always proud, and can't back down
[Spinoza]
|
19940
|
Deposing a monarch is dangerous, because the people are used to royal authority
[Spinoza]
|
19885
|
Absolute monarchy is inconsistent with civil society
[Locke]
|
19972
|
The nobility are an indispensable part of a monarchy
[Montesquieu]
|
19974
|
Monarchs must not just have links to the people; they need a body which maintains the laws
[Montesquieu]
|
19976
|
Ambition is good in a monarchy, because the monarch can always restrain it
[Montesquieu]
|
19978
|
In monarchies, men's actions are judged by their grand appearance, not their virtues
[Montesquieu]
|
19985
|
In a monarchy, the nobility must be hereditary, to bind them together
[Montesquieu]
|
19986
|
Monarchies can act more quickly, because one person is in charge
[Montesquieu]
|
21097
|
Modern monarchies are (like republics) rule by law, rather than by men
[Hume]
|
19798
|
Ancient monarchs were kings of peoples; modern monarchs more cleverly rule a land
[Rousseau]
|
19831
|
The highest officers under a monarchy are normally useless; the public could choose much better
[Rousseau]
|
19833
|
Hereditary monarchy is easier, but can lead to dreadful monarchs
[Rousseau]
|
19834
|
Attempts to train future kings don't usually work, and the best have been unprepared
[Rousseau]
|
19589
|
The whole point of a monarch is that we accept them as a higher-born, ideal person
[Novalis]
|
22677
|
A monarchical family is always deeply concerned with the interests of the state
[Tocqueville]
|
23151
|
A monarch is known to everyone in the group, and can thus unite large groups
[Russell]
|
23839
|
A lifelong head of society should only be a symbol, not a ruler
[Weil]
|