On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
The government of a free country, properly speaking, is not in the persons, but in the laws.
Said by
Thomas Paine
Source
gutenberg.orgThe government of a free country, properly speaking, is not in the persons, but in the laws.
This passage defines the essence of a free government as one founded on the rule of law rather than the authority of individuals.
Share
More from Thomas Paine
The meaning, then, good people, of all this, is: That government is governed by no principle whatever; that it can make evil good, or good evil, just as it pleases.
The Aristocracy had hitherto opposed the despotism of the Court, and affected the language of patriotism; but it opposed it as its rival (as the English Barons opposed King John) and it now opposed the nation from the same motives.
In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.
Nothing can be more terrible to a Court or Courtier than the Revolution of France.