“One murder made a villain,
Millions a hero. Princes were privileged
To kill, and numbers sanctified the crime.”

—  Beilby Porteus

The quote "One murder made a villain, Millions a hero. Princes were privileged To kill, and number…" is famous quote by Beilby Porteus (1731–1809), Bishop of Chester; Bishop of London.

Source: Death: A Poetical Essay (1759), Line 154. Compare: "One to destroy is murder by the law, And gibbets keep the lifted hand in awe; To murder thousands takes a specious name, War’s glorious art, and gives immortal fame", Edward Young, "Love of Fame", Satire vii, line 55.

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Beilby Porteus photo
Beilby Porteus 5
Bishop of Chester; Bishop of London 1731–1809

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