The absolute ruler may be a Nero, but he is sometimes a Titus or a Marcus Aurelius; the people is often Nero, but never Marcus Aurelius.
• Maximes et pensées, anecdotes et bons mots, in Œuvres choisies (Paris: Libraire des bibliophiles, 1880), Vol. I, p. 225
• Quoted by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn in The Menace of the Herd (1943), p. 103
• Maximes et pensées, anecdotes et bons mots, in Œuvres choisies (Paris: Libraire des bibliophiles, 1880), Vol. I, p. 225
• Quoted by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn in The Menace of the Herd (1943), p. 103
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Le prince absolu peut être un Néron, mais il est quelquefois Titus ou Marc-Aurèle; le peuple est souvent Néron, et jamais Marc-Aurèl.
— Antoine de Rivarol
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Le prince absolu peut être un Néron, mais il est quelquefois Titus ou Marc-Aurèle; le peuple est souvent Néron, et jamais Marc-Aurèl." in the context of "The absolute ruler may be a Nero, but he is sometimes a Titus or a Marcus Aurelius; the people is often Nero, but never Marcus Aurelius.
• Maximes et pensées, anecdotes et bons mots, in Œuvres choisies (Paris: Libraire des bibliophiles, 1880), Vol. I, p. 225
• Quoted by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn in The Menace of the Herd (1943), p. 103" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Antoine de Rivarol" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 19, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Antoine de Rivarol
Antoine de Rivarol (26 June 1753 – 11 April 1801) was a Royalist French writer and translator who lived during the Revolutionary era.
About Antoine de Rivarol
Antoine de Rivarol (26 June 1753 – 11 April 1801) was a Royalist French writer and translator who lived during the Revolutionary era.
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