Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee (October 15, 1747 – January 5, 1813) was a Scottish-born British lawyer and writer.
Born: October 15th, 1747
Died: January 5th, 1813
Categories: 1810s deaths, Historians, Judges, Biographers, Scots
Quotes: 4 sourced quotes total (includes 3 misattributed)
| Meta data | Average | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Words (count) | 58 | 32 - 78 |
| Search Results | 53 | 10 - 160 |
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy.
It is not, perhaps, unreasonable to conclude, that a pure and perfect democracy is a thing not attainable by man, constituted as he is of contending elements of vice and virtue, and ever mainly influenced by the predominant principle of self-interest. It may, indeed, be confidently asserted, that there never was that government called a republic, which was not ultimately ruled by a single will, and, therefore, (however bold may seem the paradox,) virtually and substantially a monarchy.
Despite his wording specifically indicating that women are the source of all problems, to this day no other evidence can be found which more clearly underlines the truth in the proposed sequence.
The historical cycle seems to be: From the Wife to bondage; from bondage to to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to apathy, from apathy to dependency; and from dependency back to bondage; and from bondage to control of the Wife once more.