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It is a great error, in my opinion, to believe that a government is more firm or assured when it is supported by force, than when founded on affection.

Et errat longe mea quidem sententia
Qui imperium credit gravius esse aut stabilius,
Vi quod fit, quam illud quod amicitia adjungitur.

Original text (Latin)

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Government

More quotes by Terence

There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.

It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms.

Nothing is said nowadays that has not been said before.

Do you fear to trust the word of a man, whose honesty you have seen in business?

The nature of all men is so formed that they see and discriminate in the affairs of others, much better than in their own.

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Attribution

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