But thou know'st this,
'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss.

But thou know'st this,
'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss.

The closed door and the sealed lips are prerequisites to tyranny.

The closed door and the sealed lips are prerequisites to tyranny.

A king ruleth as he ought, a tyrant as he lists, a king to the
profit of all, a read more

A king ruleth as he ought, a tyrant as he lists, a king to the
profit of all, a tyrant only to please a few.

'Twixt kings and tyrans there's this difference known:
Kings seek their subjects' good, tyrants their owne.

'Twixt kings and tyrans there's this difference known:
Kings seek their subjects' good, tyrants their owne.

Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them

Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them

Th' oppressive, sturdy, man-destroying villains,
Who ravag'd kingdoms, and laid empires waste,
And in a cruel wantonness read more

Th' oppressive, sturdy, man-destroying villains,
Who ravag'd kingdoms, and laid empires waste,
And in a cruel wantonness of power,
Thinn'd states of half their people, and gave up
To want the rest.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.

Think'st thou there is no tyranny but that
Of blood and chains? The despotism of vice--
The read more

Think'st thou there is no tyranny but that
Of blood and chains? The despotism of vice--
The weakness and the wickedness of luxury--
The negligence--the apathy--the evils
Of sensual sloth--produces ten thousand tyrants,
Whose delegated cruelty surpasses
The worst acts of one energetic master,
However harsh and hard in his own bearing.