REPUBLIC, n. A nation in which, the thing governing and the thing governed being the same, there is only a permitted authority to enforce an optional obedience. In a republic, the foundation of public order is the ever lessening habit of submission inherited from ancestors who, being truly governed, submitted because they had to. There are as many kinds of republics as there are graduations between the despotism whence they came and the anarchy whither they lead.

Famous Quotes / Ambrose Bierce

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Ambrose Bierce: "REPUBLIC, n. A nation in which, the thing governing and the thing governed being the same, there is only a permitted authority to enforce an optional obedience. In a republic, the foundation of public order is the ever lessening habit of submission inherited from ancestors who, being truly governed, submitted because they had to. There are as many kinds of republics as there are graduations between the despotism whence they came and the anarchy whither they lead."

Quotations about

Anarchy	Ancestors	Authority	Because
Despotism	Enforce	Foundation	Governed
Governing	Graduations	Habit	Inherited
Kinds	Lead	Lessening	Nation
Obedience	Optional	Order	Permitted
Public	Republic	Republics	Same
Submission	Submitted	Thing	Truly
Whence	Whither

Quotes by Power Quotations

REPUBLIC, n. A nation in which, the thing governing and the thing governed being the same, there is only a permitted authority to enforce an optional obedience. In a republic, the foundation of public order is the ever lessening habit of submission inherited from ancestors who, being truly governed, submitted because they had to. There are as many kinds of republics as there are graduations between the despotism whence they came and the anarchy whither they lead. - Ambrose Bierce