Men are still men. The despot's wickedness
Comes of ill teaching, and of power's excess,--
Comes of read more

Men are still men. The despot's wickedness
Comes of ill teaching, and of power's excess,--
Comes of the purple he from childhood wears,
Slaves would be tyrants if the chance were theirs.

Every tyrant who has lived has believed in freedom--for himself.

Every tyrant who has lived has believed in freedom--for himself.

Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them

Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them

Under conditions of tyranny it is far easier to act than to think.

Under conditions of tyranny it is far easier to act than to think.

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.

Is there no tyrant but the crowned one?
[Fr., N'est-on jamais tyran qu'avec un diademe?]

Is there no tyrant but the crowned one?
[Fr., N'est-on jamais tyran qu'avec un diademe?]

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.

Tremble, ye tyrants, for ye can not die.
[Fr., Tremblez, tyrans, vous etes immortels.]

Tremble, ye tyrants, for ye can not die.
[Fr., Tremblez, tyrans, vous etes immortels.]

You may talk of the tyranny of Nero and Tiberius; but the real tyranny is the tyranny of your next-door read more

You may talk of the tyranny of Nero and Tiberius; but the real tyranny is the tyranny of your next-door neighbour.