03-Words From Great Authors

It will not be unprofitable for the Reader to cast his eye upon these sentences of great Authors, which relate to some heads of the following discourse.

(Translated from their Originals.)

Erasmus. As a woodcock, otherwise loud, being taken, becomes dumb; so slavery renders some men speechless, who, if they were free, would tell their minds freely.

Nazianzen. Discord is better for the advantage of piety, than dissembled concord.

Bernard. But if scandal arise for the truth, it is better to suffer scandal than relinquish the truth.

Bracton. He is a king who rightly governs, a tyrant who oppresses his people.

Cicero. He loses all right to government, who, by that government, overturns the common-weal.

Aristotle. He who obeys the law, obeys both God and the law; who obeys the king, a man and a beast.

Sueton. They are not bound to be loyal to a wicked king, under the pains of perjury.

Ambrose. He that does not keep off injury from his neighbour, if he can do it, is as much in the fault as he who does it.

Chamier. But all subjects have right of resisting tyrants, who by open force acquire dominion.

Barclay. Against contenders for Monarchy. All antiquity agrees, that tyrants can, most justly, be attacked and slain as public enemies, not only by the public, but also by individual persons.