William Smith O'Brien Quotes (1803-1864)

“An officer who is liable to be dismissed upon every change of Government naturally feels little interest in performing faithfully the duties of his situation. His thoughts are rather directed to the necessity of making provision for the contingency of a change. If he be corrupt in principle, he is subjected to a temptation which is almost irresistible.”

“Oligarchies have generally sprung from the ruins either of monarchy or of democracy. When supreme power falls into the hands of a weak sovereign, the great nobles encroach upon the prerogatives of the monarch. In democracies particular families or individuals acquire, by their talents, their wealth, or their virtues, an influence which loses its original character of responsibility, and becomes permanent and self-dependent.”

“All power which is exercised, not according to known rules, but according to discretion, is arbitrary power; and "arbitrary power" has become a synonym for tyranny. Whilst, therefore, it is essential to the public interest that each branch of the legislature should possess the privileges which are necessary for the efficient exercise of its duties, it is also expedient that such privileges should be defined and limited by law.”