“ The despotism of heaven is the one absolutely perfect government. An earthly despotism would be the absolutely perfect earthly government, if the conditions were the same, namely, the despot the perfectest individual of the human race, and his lease of life perpetual. ”
Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889). copy citation
| Author | Mark Twain |
|---|---|
| Source | A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court |
| Topic | despotism government |
| Date | 1889 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/86/86-h/86-h.htm |
Context
“Yes, I had made pretty handsome progress when Sir Sagramor’s challenge struck me.
Four years rolled by—and then! Well, you would never imagine it in the world. Unlimited power is the ideal thing when it is in safe hands. The despotism of heaven is the one absolutely perfect government. An earthly despotism would be the absolutely perfect earthly government, if the conditions were the same, namely, the despot the perfectest individual of the human race, and his lease of life perpetual. But as a perishable perfect man must die, and leave his despotism in the hands of an imperfect successor, an earthly despotism is not merely a bad form of government, it is the worst form that is possible.
” source
Four years rolled by—and then! Well, you would never imagine it in the world. Unlimited power is the ideal thing when it is in safe hands. The despotism of heaven is the one absolutely perfect government. An earthly despotism would be the absolutely perfect earthly government, if the conditions were the same, namely, the despot the perfectest individual of the human race, and his lease of life perpetual. But as a perishable perfect man must die, and leave his despotism in the hands of an imperfect successor, an earthly despotism is not merely a bad form of government, it is the worst form that is possible.
” source
