Quote#Politics & Power
I am persuaded to believe that God had left nations to the liberty of…
Quote byAlgernon Sidney · 1623–1683
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Scaffold speech (1683).
English (original)
I am persuaded to believe that God had left nations to the liberty of setting up such governments as best pleased themselves, and that magistrates were set up for the good of nations, not nations for the honor and glory of magistrates.
— Algernon Sidney
More from Algernon Sidney
Liars ought to have good memories.
Few men would be so gentle as to spare even the best, if by their destruction vile usurpers could become God's anointed, and by the most execrable wickedness invest themselves with that divine character.
If his Majesty is resolved to have my head, he may make a whistle of my arse if he pleases.
I doe now willingly lay down my life for the same; and having a sure witness within me, that God doth absolve me, and uphold me, in the utmost extremityes, am very littell sollicitous, though man doth condemne me.
We live in an age that makes truth pass for treason, and as I dare not say anything against it, so the ears of those that are about me will probably be found too tender to hear it. This my trial and condemnation do sufficiently evidence.
Men lived like fishes; the great ones devoured the small.