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Full Idea
In despotic states the sovereign is so much attached to his power that he dislikes the constraints even of his own regulations, and likes to see his agents acting irregularly.
Gist of Idea
Despots like to see their own regulations ignored, by themselves and their agents
Source
Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America (abr Renshaw) [1840], 1.11)
Book Ref
Tocqueville,Alexis de: 'Democracy in America (abridged)', ed/tr. Renshaw,Patrick [Wordsworth 1998], p.85
A Reaction
A nice observation. What would Machiavelli say? At least the citizens can see where the real power resides.