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History is a graveyard of aristocracies.
Vilfredo Pareto The Mind and Society · 1916

Political theory Quotations

”History is a graveyard of aristocracies.”

Vilfredo Pareto · The Mind and Society, 1916 · Primary source

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

Benjamin Franklin · Letter to the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, 1787 · Primary source

“There will never be a really free and enlightened State, until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.”

Henry David Thoreau · Resistance to Civil Government, 1849 · Primary source

“Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need—not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, ‘rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation’—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.”

John F. Kennedy · Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy, 1961 · Primary source

“The new elite which seeks to supersede the old one, or merely to share its power and honors, does not admit to such an intention frankly and openly.”

Vilfredo Pareto · The Rise and Fall of Elites, 1900 · Primary source

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it.”

John F. Kennedy · Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy, 1961 · Primary source

“The history of man is the history of the continuous replacement of certain elites: as one ascends, another declines.”

Vilfredo Pareto · The Rise and Fall of Elites, 1900 · Primary source

“Imagination rules the world.”

Napoleon Bonaparte · The Memorial of Saint Helena, 1824 · Secondary source

“Assume that the new elite were clearly and simply to proclaim its intentions which are to supplant the old elite; no one would come to its assistance, it would be defeated before having fought a battle. On the contrary, it appears to be asking nothing for itself, well knowing that without asking anything in advance it will obtain what it wants as a consequence of its victory.”

Vilfredo Pareto · Manual of Political Economy, 1906 · Primary source

“I heartily accept the motto,—‘That government is best which governs least;’ and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically.”

Henry David Thoreau · Resistance to Civil Government, 1849 · Primary source

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Political theory

5 authors · 7 works · 20 themes · 36 tags
Authors
Benjamin Franklin American statesmanJohn F. Kennedy President of the United StatesHenry David Thoreau American writer and philosopher
Works
Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy · 1961Resistance to Civil Government Henry David Thoreau · 1849The Rise and Fall of Elites Vilfredo Pareto · 1900
Themes
Decline of ruling elitesImpermanence of political powerPolitical freedom depends partly on civic responsibility
Tags
Elite theoryCirculation of elitesPolitical authorityPolitical power
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