Quote#Politics & Power
My opinion is, that power should always be distrusted, in whatever…
Quote byWilliam Jones · 1746–1794
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Letter to Lord Althorpe (5 October 1782), in Lord Teignmouth, Life of Sir W. Jones (1835), vol. 1.
English (original)
My opinion is, that power should always be distrusted, in whatever hands it is placed.
— William Jones
More from William Jones
Than all Bocara's vaunted gold, Than all the gems of Samarcand.
What constitutes a state? Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain. And sovereign law, that state's collected will, O'er thrones and globes elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.
Of armies on the chequer’d field array’d, And guiltless war in pleasing form display’d; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms.
Seven hours to law, to soothing slumber seven, Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven.
Go boldly forth, my simple lay, Whose accents flow with artless ease, Like orient pearls at random strung.
Plato drew many of his notions (through Egypt, where he resided for some time) from the sages of Hindustán.