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Single Idea 19978
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy
]
Full Idea
In monarchies, men's actions are judged, not by whether they are good, but whether they appear attractive [belles]; not by whether they are just, but whether they appear grand; not by whether they are reasonable, but by whether they appear extraordinary.
Gist of Idea
In monarchies, men's actions are judged by their grand appearance, not their virtues
Source
Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757) [1748], 04.02)
Book Ref
Montesquieu,Baron de: 'Selected Political Writings', ed/tr. Richter,Melvin [Hackett 1990], p.134
A Reaction
A person that comes to mind is the Duke of Buckingham under James I and Charles I. Or the Earl of Essex under Elizabeth I.
The
21 ideas
with the same theme
[hereditary or elected lifetime leader]:
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8240
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A true king shares his pleasure with the people
[Mengzi (Mencius)]
|
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22541
|
Kings should be selected according to character
[Aristotle]
|
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19937
|
Monarchs are always proud, and can't back down
[Spinoza]
|
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19936
|
Kings tend to fight wars for glory, rather than for peace and liberty
[Spinoza]
|
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19940
|
Deposing a monarch is dangerous, because the people are used to royal authority
[Spinoza]
|
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19885
|
Absolute monarchy is inconsistent with civil society
[Locke]
|
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19972
|
The nobility are an indispensable part of a monarchy
[Montesquieu]
|
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19974
|
Monarchs must not just have links to the people; they need a body which maintains the laws
[Montesquieu]
|
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19976
|
Ambition is good in a monarchy, because the monarch can always restrain it
[Montesquieu]
|
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19978
|
In monarchies, men's actions are judged by their grand appearance, not their virtues
[Montesquieu]
|
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19985
|
In a monarchy, the nobility must be hereditary, to bind them together
[Montesquieu]
|
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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]
|
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19798
|
Ancient monarchs were kings of peoples; modern monarchs more cleverly rule a land
[Rousseau]
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19831
|
The highest officers under a monarchy are normally useless; the public could choose much better
[Rousseau]
|
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19834
|
Attempts to train future kings don't usually work, and the best have been unprepared
[Rousseau]
|
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19833
|
Hereditary monarchy is easier, but can lead to dreadful monarchs
[Rousseau]
|
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19589
|
The whole point of a monarch is that we accept them as a higher-born, ideal person
[Novalis]
|
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22677
|
A monarchical family is always deeply concerned with the interests of the state
[Tocqueville]
|
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23151
|
A monarch is known to everyone in the group, and can thus unite large groups
[Russell]
|
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23839
|
A lifelong head of society should only be a symbol, not a ruler
[Weil]
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