World History

Socrates' conversation illustrates the logic of the politics of plunder and injustice in the polis. Socrates is able to do this because of his audience's lack of a definition of justice.

"The kind of power traditionally exercised by kings and princes, represented chiefly by the tax collector and the military, was in fact a very weak kind of power compared with what a philosophy of government resting on the general will could bring about."

It is remarkable that the Constitution was little trusted or admired by the wisest and most illustrious of its founders, and that its severest and

Calvin’s embattled followers, enjoying rising aspirations against non-Calvinist rulers, developed justifications for resistance to evil ruler

In the long run, the religious "peace" of absolutist "moderation" turned out to be the peace of the grave for many Huguenots.

"Socialism and legislation seem to be inevitably connected if socialist societies are to keep alive."

Over two decades before the Spanish Jesuit de Mariana, George Buchanan arrived, for the first time, at a truly individualist theory of natural rights and sovereignty — and therefore a justification for individual acts of tyrannicide.

The European experience, in fact, suggests that governments play absolutely no role in stabilization.

 By the time the politicians are in charge, most of the eggheads will be in jail or in flight to Canada or Mexico.

"An excessive quantity of money," he opined, "should be avoided."