PROPOSITION I. THEOREM. No rulers will do anything which may hurt the people. This is the thesis to be maintained; and the following we humbly offer to Mr Mill, as its syllogistic demonstration. No rulers will do that which produces pain to themselves. But the unfavourable sentiments of the people will give pain to them. Therefore no rulers will do anything which may excite the unfavourable sentiments of the people. But the unfavourable sentiments of the people are excited by everything which hurts them.英文原著 · 《The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches-2》
The chief Roman ruler, at any rate during the later wars against the invaders, was called Dux Britanniae, "the ruler of Britain." It became the aim of the ablest kings to restore the power of this officer, and to carry on his work, to rule and defend a united country. And I will tell you briefly how the kings ruled and defended Wales for more than five hundred years--how Maelgwn tried to unite it, how Rhodri tried to prevent the attacks of Saxon and Dane, how Howel gave it laws, and how Griffith tried to defend it against England.英文原著 · 《A Short History of Wales》
In aristocracies rulers sometimes endeavor to corrupt the people - In democracies rulers frequently show themselves to be corrupt - In the former their vices are directly prejudicial to the morality of the people - In the latter their indirect influence is still more pernicious.英文原著 · 《Democracy In America-1》
No Ruler is ever slain but the tremendous details of it are ravenously devoured by a hundred thousand men whose minds dwell, unaware, near the temporary-insanity frontier--and over they go, now! There is a day--two days--three--during which no Ruler would be safe from perhaps the half of them; and there is a single moment wherein he would not be safe from any of them, no doubt.英文原著 · 《Letters Vol. 5》
"The question admits a double reply. He who is born a ruler, and maintains a foreign army, governing by fear, should be penurious. He who is made ruler, who courts the people, and would reign by love, must win their affection by generosity, and dazzle their fancies by pomp. Such, I believe, is the usual maxim in Italy, which is rife in all experience of state wisdom."英文原著 · 《Rienzi》
That he was not a tyrant is clear in this - when he was dead, he was bitterly regretted. The People never regret a tyrant! From the unpopularity that springs from other faults there is often a re-action; but there is no re-action in the populace towards their betrayor or oppressor. A thousand biographies cannot decide upon the faults or merits of a ruler like the one fact, whether he is beloved or hated ten years after he is dead. But if the ruler has been murdered by the People, and is then regretted by them, their repentance is his acquittal.英文原著 · 《Rienzi》