Skip to content

The modern absolutism, which we find the most natural thing in the world, would have been quite beyond the dreams of the most absolute of kings.

— Bertrand de Jouvenel Sovereignty: An Inquiry into the Political Good (1957)

Another quote →

Topics

Dreams

More quotes by Bertrand de Jouvenel

A people among whom custom is altogether sovereign endures the despotism of the dead.

On Power: Its Nature and the History of Its Growth (1949)

The leveling process need find no place in Power's programme: it is embedded in its destiny.

On Power: Its Nature and the History of Its Growth (1949)

It is not hard to discover behind this juridical concept a metaphysical one.

On Power: Its Nature and the History of Its Growth (1949)

"Monarchy and feudal aristocracy are two lions born on the same day."

On Power: Its Nature and the History of Its Growth (1949)

Resistance is, therefore, the business of aristocracies.

On Power: Its Nature and the History of Its Growth (1949)

All Bertrand de Jouvenel quotes →

You may also like

Political leaders are never leaders. For leaders we have to look to the Awakeners! Lao Tse, Buddha, Socrates, Jesus, Milarepa, Gurdjiev, Krishnamurti.

Henry Miller My Bike & Other Friends (1977)

Utu, shepherd of the land, father of the black-headed, when you go to sleep, the people go to sleep with you; youth Utu, when you rise, the people rise with you.

Lugalbanda

Some of my youthful readers are developing wonderful imaginations. This pleases me.

L. Frank Baum Introduction to The Lost Princess of Oz (1917)

Religion in so far as it is a source of consolation is a hindrance to true faith; and in this sense atheism is a purification.

Simone Weil

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Bertrand de Jouvenel (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.