When I started reading Principles of Politics Applicable to All Governments by Benjamin Constant, it occured to me that I ought to start recording the excellent quotations I find therein. But at the time I was exiled to a deep canyon and didn't have ready access to the blogosphere. While reading tonight, I came across a quote that has spurred me to start late, rather than never.
This one goes out to all the British bloggers who are looking on in awe as their government abandons all pretense of fighting crime, while simultaneously sabotaging the ancient safeguards of the British judicial system.
If you once agree that despotism is a convenient tool for arresting the rise in heinous crimes, you give the government an interest in heinous crimes increasing. It will be careless in its surveillance in order to force you to give it unlimited powers."Legal Safeguards," from Principles of Politics Applicable to All Governments by Benjamin Constant, page 153.
Excellent post, Dan. Linked.
Posted by: Kevin Baker | 24 August 2004 at 04:17