August 29, 2025

Don’t believe those who fervently preach liberty. Nearly all of them—probably every single one of them—has his own particular interests in mind. Experience proves beyond a reasonable doubt that if they thought they would be better off under an absolute government, they would rush into it as fast as they could.

Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540), Italian historian and statesman, Ricordi, C, 66

Which of your liberties is most precious to you? Would you sacrifice it (or any other lesser liberties) for the chance to be an absolute ruler’s right-hand man or woman?

Absolutism in any of its myriad forms is the default daydream of those who lose patience with democracy as the guarantor of liberty.