How to Strip a Citizenry of it's Liberty
"Let us consider that arbitrary power has seldom or ever been introduced into any
country all at once. It must be introduced by slow degrees, and as if it were step by
step, lest the people should see it approach. The barriers and fences of the people's
liberty must be plucked one by one, and some plausible pretenses must be found for removing or hoodwinking, one after another, those sentries who are posted by the constitution of a free country for warning the people of their danger. When these preparatory steps are once made, the people may then indeed, with regret, see slavery and arbitrary power making long strides over the land, but it will be to late to think of preventing or avoiding the impending ruin."
Lord Chesterfield, English writer and statesman (1694-1773) |
