Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Note on the text
- Introduction
- Principal events in Sidney's life
- Bibliographical note
- Biographical notes
- Court Maxims
- First Dialogue
- Second Dialogue
- Third Dialogue
- Fourth Dialogue
- Fifth Dialogue
- Sixth Dialogue
- Seventh Dialogue
- Eighth Dialogue
- Ninth Dialogue
- Tenth Dialogue
- Eleventh Dialogue
- Twelfth Dialogue
- Thirteenth Dialogue
- Fourteenth Dialogue
- Fifteenth Dialogue
- Index of biblical quotations
- Index of proper names
- Index of subjects
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
Third Dialogue
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Note on the text
- Introduction
- Principal events in Sidney's life
- Bibliographical note
- Biographical notes
- Court Maxims
- First Dialogue
- Second Dialogue
- Third Dialogue
- Fourth Dialogue
- Fifth Dialogue
- Sixth Dialogue
- Seventh Dialogue
- Eighth Dialogue
- Ninth Dialogue
- Tenth Dialogue
- Eleventh Dialogue
- Twelfth Dialogue
- Thirteenth Dialogue
- Fourteenth Dialogue
- Fifteenth Dialogue
- Index of biblical quotations
- Index of proper names
- Index of subjects
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
Summary
Second Court Maxim: Monarchy ought to be absolute and hereditary
Philalethes: the defects you have mentioned seem rather to proceed from the ill constitution of some monarchies.
Eunomius: what is requisite to the constitution of that you esteem perfect monarchy?
Philalethes: that it be absolute and, secondly, hereditary.
Eunomius: what induces you to believe absolute and hereditary monarchy best?
Philalethes: there is great difficulty in governing a people. The governor needs all help. Absolute power is necessary that his commands be not contradicted by the peevishness or ignorance of those who understand them not, or would hinder him from doing that that is good. Secondly, reason and experience show that resolutions are more speedy, executions more vigorous, when determined by one man than | when they depend upon such tedious disputes as are usual in commonwealths, where many give their opinions. And the most ignorant are often most positive in asserting their opinions. Experience also shows that those resolutions or counsels are steadily and constantly prosecuted which proceed from the prudence of one man and are directed to the interest of him and his family, whereas the counsels of commonwealths change according to the humour of those that happen to be in power.
Thirdly, nothing is more conducive to the good of a state than the incessant care of the governor perpetually intent to procure the good of it, which is most seen in hereditary monarchies, the monarch looking on the state as his patrimony descending to his heirs.
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- Information
- Sidney: Court Maxims , pp. 21 - 37Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1996