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Monarchy is an outrage which even the blind of an entire people cannot justify... all men hold from nature the secret mission to destroy wherever it my be found. No man can reign innocently. The folly is too evident. Every king is a rebel and a usurper. Do kings themselves treat otherwise those who seek to usurp their authority?
Louis Antoine De Saint-Just
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Monarchy is inherently unjust, and no king can rule without being a usurper.

This quote critiques monarchy by implying that it is an unjust system where rulers cannot govern innocently without infringing on the rights of others. It suggests that all individuals have a natural inclination to resist and dismantle oppressive systems, highlighting the inherent conflict between the authority of kings and the freedom of the people.

Themes

MonarchyJusticeAuthorityUsurpationFreedomOppression

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a political discussion about the justification of monarchies.

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One cannot reign innocently: the insanity of doing so is evident. Every king is a rebel and a usurper.
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