Full Idea
Those who attain the highest positions in monarchies are most often petty bunglers, swindlers and intriguers, whose talents serve only to display their incompetence to the public. The populace is much less often in error in its choice than the prince.
Gist of Idea
The highest officers under a monarchy are normally useless; the public could choose much better
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], III.06)
Book Reference
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.184
A Reaction
Many monarchs have had famously good advisers, such as Lord Burleigh. The worst thing about bad leaders, at any level, is the bad appointments they make.