"The following are the sentiments of Mr. Sidney: I know it is objected that he is a republican; and it is dishonestly suggested that I am a republican, because I commend him as an excellent writer, and have taken a passage or two out of him. In answer to this, I shall only take notice, that the passages which I take from him are not republican passages, unless virtue and truth be republicans: That Mr. Sidney's book, for the main of it, is eternally true, and agreeable to our own constitution, which is the best republick in the world, with a prince at the head of it: That our government is a thousand degrees nearer a-kin to a commonwealth (any sort of commonwealth now subsisting, or that ever did subsist in the world) than it is to absolute monarchy: That for myself, I hope in God never to see any other form of government in England than that which is now in England; and that if this be the style and spirit of a republican, I glory in it, as much as I despise those who take base methods to decry my writings, which are addressed to the common sense and experience of mankind. I hope that it is not yet made heresy in politicks, to assert that two and two make four."
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Politicians from EnglandExecuted peoplePhilosophers from EnglandDiplomats of the United KingdomPeople from London
Original Language: English
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John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, 'Character of a good and of an evil Magistrate, quoted from Algernon Sidney, Esq.', No. 26 (15 July 1721), Cato's Letters: Or, Essays on Liberty, Civil and Religious, and Other Important Subjects, Volume One, ed. Ronald Hamowy (1995), p. 262
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Algernon_Sidney
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Algernon Sidney
1623 – 1683
Algernon Sidney (also Sydney) (January 1623 – 7 December 1683) was an English politician, political theorist, and opponent of King Charles II of England.
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