218. Fear; Impotence
"The characteristic of our own government at present is
imbecility. The magistrate dare not call the guards for fear of
being hanged. The guards will not come, for fear of being given
up to the blind rage of popular juries."
Boswell: Life
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481. Government; Impotence; Negligence;
Resignation
"Governors being accustomed to hear of more crimes than they can
punish, and more wrongs than they can redress, set themselves at
ease by indiscriminate negligence, and presently forget the
request when they lose sight of the petitioner."
Johnson: Rasselas [Narrator]
Note: If you haven't read it yet, please read this note of caution regarding quotes from
Rasselas.
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