Politics and Power

Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate’er it touches; and obedience, Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth, Makes slaves of men, and, of the human frame, A mechanized automaton.

History’s purchased page to call them great.

A dog starv’d at his master’s gate Predicts the ruin of the state.

But war’s a game, which, were their subjects wise, Kings would not play at.

For just experience tells; in every soil, That those that think must govern those that toil.

Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.

The Right Divine of Kings to govern wrong.

And proud his mistress’ orders to perform, Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.

The people’s voice is odd, It is, and it is not, the voice of God.

A patriot is a fool in ev’ry age.

The man that makes a character makes foes.

All empire is no more than power in trust.

Better one suffer, than a nation grieve.

In friendship false, implacable in hate, Resolved to ruin or to rule the state.

Pandemonium, city and proud seat Of Lucifer.

With grave Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem’d A pillar of state; deep on his front engraven Deliberation sat and public care; And princely counsel in his face yet shone, Majestic though in ruin.

Thus Belial with words cloth’d in reason’s garb Counsel’d ignoble ease, and peaceful sloth, Not peace.

Heaven-gates are not so highly arch’d As princes’ palaces; they that enter there Must go upon their knees.

No man’s pie is freed From his ambitious finger.

And art made tongue-tied by authority.

Get thee glass eyes; And, like a scurvy politician, seem To see the things thou dost not.

Ay, every inch a king.

That in the captain’s but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.

O! it is excellent To have a giant’s strength, but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.