Thomas PaineAnd as a man, who is attached to a prostitute, is unfitted to choose or judge of a wife, so any prepossession in favour of a rotten constitution of government will disable us from discerning a good one.
About This Quote
The above quote is a response to the question of where people go wrong in choosing a ruler. Looking at it from this perspective, we can see that right now, we do all too much judging of rulers by their features rather than the real value of what they bring to society. A good ruler is not dependent on anything but the effort he puts into his position. The best ruler does not need to be beautiful or handsome or fit in with what others want.
He simply needs to be fit to govern well. This means that if someone is not fit for his position, he should be removed and replaced with one who is fit. For example, if someone lacks common sense and reason, then he should be replaced with someone who does.
Source: Common Sense
Some Similar Quotes
- Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
- Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth.
- Immer wieder behauptete Unwahrheiten werden nicht zu Wahrheiten, sondern, was schlimmer ist, zu Gewohnheiten.
- What people want, mainly, is to be told by some plausible authority that what they are already doing is right. I don't know know of a quicker way to become unpopular than to disagree.
- A people religiously right, will not long remain politically wrong.
More Quotes By Thomas Paine
- Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
- Let them call me a rebel and welcome. I feel no concern from it. But should I suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul.
- It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.
- The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.
- He who dares not offend cannot be honest.