A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.
Aristotle (via ageofreason)
This is no less true today, the only difference is that while tyrants were often good for the people in Aristotle’s time, to be a tyrant in our times is to be a mad man.
(via hellenistic-beauty)
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