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Why so many laws? Because there is no legislator. What have these so-called legislators done in six years? Nothing, for to destroy is not to make.

— Joseph de Maistre Considerations on France (1796)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Chapter VII, p. 55

More quotes by Joseph de Maistre

The arts, in general, need a king; they only flourish under the influence of sceptres.

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It is always necessary to call men back to history, which is the first master in politics, or more exactly the only master.

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Every nation gets the government it deserves.

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Attribution

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