On the record
In any community, fortunately for ourselves, power is always upon the defensive; and when men are vigilant to expose its encroachments it is urgent to seek their good opinion.
Said by
Harold J. Laski
Source
gutenberg.orgHarold J. Laski: “In any community, fortunately for ourselves, power is always upon the defensive; and when men are vigilant to expose its…”
Editor's note · Context
Laski suggests that power is often defensive and must consider public opinion to maintain legitimacy.
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More from Harold J. Laski
It has been the historic character of persecution always to degrade the persecutor and to strengthen the persecuted by drawing attention to their claims.
The essence of the persecuting position is always that the persecutor has hold of truth and that he would betray its service by allowing it to be questioned.
He is able, accordingly, to indulge in the twofold luxury not only of preserving his own authority, but also of assisting the persons attacked to enter, if they so choose, the way of truth.
When attacks on liberty are political or economic, it is their motive rather than their nature that changes.
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