Quote of the Day 01/25/2010
St. Augustine of Hippo (Modern-day Algeria)
Justice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms? The band itself is made of men; it is ruled by the authority of a prince, it is knit together by the pact of the confederacy; the booty is divided by the law agreed on.
If...this evil increases to such a degree that it holds place, fixes abodes, takes possession of cities, and subdues peoples, it assumes the more plainly the name of a kingdom...
Indeed, that was an apt and true reply which was given to Alexander the Great by a pirate who had been seized. For when that king had asked the man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, he answered with bold pride, ‘What thou meanest by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled emperor.
- St. Augustine, City of God: pg. 112-113
If...this evil increases to such a degree that it holds place, fixes abodes, takes possession of cities, and subdues peoples, it assumes the more plainly the name of a kingdom...
Indeed, that was an apt and true reply which was given to Alexander the Great by a pirate who had been seized. For when that king had asked the man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, he answered with bold pride, ‘What thou meanest by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled emperor.
- St. Augustine, City of God: pg. 112-113
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