Theodoric the Great Quotes

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.

Justice is the great end of civil society.

That state is best ordered when the wicked have no command, and the good have.

Vice stirs up war, virtue fights.

Good laws make it easier to do right and harder to do wrong.

War never takes a wicked man by chance, the good man always.

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.

What is going to rule our great commonwealth, the mob or the law?

The principal end a prince was made for is to take care, that every one should have his rights. This ought to engage him to study not only the science of those great civilians, who ascend to the first principles of law, which regulate human society, and are the basis as it were of government and politics; but also that part of the law, which descends to the affairs of particular persons. This branch is generally left for the gentlemen of the long robe, and not admitted into the education of princes, though they are every day to pass judgment upon the fortunes, liberties, lives, honor, and reputation of their subjects. Princes are continually talked to of valour and liberality; but if justice do not regulate these two qualities, they degenerate into the most odious vices. Without justice valour does nothing but destroy; and liberality is only a foolish profuseness. Justice keeps all in order, and contains within bounds him, who distributes it, as well as those, to whom it is distributed.

The superior man governs men, according to their nature, with what is proper to them, and as soon as they change what is wrong, he stops.

The good needs fear no law, It is his safety and the bad man's awe.

The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.

The triumph of justice is the only peace.

But the relationship of morality and power is a very subtle one. Because ultimately power without morality is no longer power.

A human society obeys the dictates of reason and is guided and governed by a respect for justice.

If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

Morality binds people into groups. It gives us tribalism, it gives us genocide, war, and politics. But it also gives us heroism, altruism, and sainthood.

The first requisite of civilization is that of justice.

May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.

Good morals lead to good laws.

The best is he who calls men to the best. And those who heed the call are also blessed. But worthless who call not, heed not, but rest.

Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.

It is impossible to tell where the law stops and justice begins.

Justice is such a fine thing that we cannot pay too dearly for it.