Letter to Dr. Covel Feb. 21, (1688-9) Thirteen Letters from Sir Isaac Newton to J. Covel, D.D. (1848)
Context: 1. Fidelity & Allegiance sworn to the King is only such a fidelity and obedience as is due to him by the law of the land; for were that faith and allegiance more than what the law requires, we would swear ourselves slaves, and the King absolute; whereas, by the law, we are free men, notwithstanding those Oaths. 2. When, therefore, the obligation by the law to fidelity and allegiance ceases, that by the Oath also ceases...
“They were more than kings, now they are less than slaves.”
Ils etaient plus que rois; ils sont moindres qu'esclaves.
Sertorius, act III, scene i
Sertorius describes Roman citizens after they had fallen under tyranny.
Sertorius (1662)
Original
Ils etaient plus que rois; ils sont moindres qu'esclaves.
Sertorius (1662)
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Pierre Corneille 81
French tragedian 1606–1684Related quotes
History of the War in the Peninsula, Under Napoleon, Volume 1, p. 122
Snæfríður
Íslandsklukkan (Iceland's Bell) (1946), Part III: Fire in Copenhagen
“Thrones and crowns of worldly kings carry worth less than shows of donkey for us.”
Source: The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004), p. 270
“The wars of peoples will be more terrible than those of kings.”
House of Commons, 13 May 1901, Hansard vol. 93 col. 1572. http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1901/may/13/army-organisation
Early career years (1898–1929)
Context: In former days, when wars arose from individual causes, from the policy of a Minister or the passion of a King, when they were fought by small regular armies of professional soldiers, and when their course was retarded by the difficulties of communication and supply, and often suspended by the winter season, it was possible to limit the liabilities of the combatants. But now, when mighty populations are impelled on each other, each individual severally embittered and inflamed—when the resources of science and civilisation sweep away everything that might mitigate their fury, a European war can only end in the ruin of the vanquished and the scarcely less fatal commercial dislocation and exhaustion of the conquerors. Democracy is more vindictive than Cabinets. The wars of peoples will be more terrible than those of kings.
“Desire makes slaves out of kings, and patience makes kings out of slaves.”
al-Ghazali https://awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/35-inspirational-imam-al-ghazali-quotes-on-success/
Source: How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (1972), p. 225.
“We are all of us more or less the slaves of opinion.”
"On Court-Influence" (January 3/January 10, 1818)
Political Essays (1819)