He placed them under kings of their own race; and whilst he paid this compliment to their pride, he secured their obedience by the interested fidelity of a prince who knew, that, as he owed the beginning, so he depended for the duration of his authority wholly upon their favor.
Edmund Burke: “He placed them under kings of their own race; and whilst he paid this compliment to their pride, he secured their…”
Editor's note · Context
Burke discusses how Roman leaders maintained control over conquered peoples by allowing them to retain local kings, thus balancing authority and pride.
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Governments must be abused and deranged indeed, before it can be thought of; and the prospect of the future must be as bad as the experience of the past.
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As he is not to obey us, but we are to obey the law in him, our Constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible.
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