Writes Rick Rozoff:

From essays of Plutarch included in the Moralia. His observations seem particularly pertinent during the reign of Josephus Bidenus Malefactorius.

Precepts of Statecraft

 …Demosthenes is right in declaring that the greatest safeguard states possess against tyrants is distrust; for that part of the soul with which we trust is most easily taken captive.

So of all kinds of love that which is engendered in states and peoples for an individual because of his virtue is at once the strongest and the most divine; but those falsely named and falsely attested honors which are derived from giving theatrical performances, making distributions of money or offering gladiatorial shows are like harlots’ flatteries, since the masses always smile upon him who gives to them and does them favors, granting him an ephemeral and uncertain reputation.

Now those who are skilled in tending and keeping bees think that the hive which hums loudest and is most full of noise is thriving and is in good condition; but he to whom God has given the care of the rational and political swarm will judge of its happiness chiefly by the quietness and tranquility of the people….States which have fallen unto complete disorder are utterly ruined unless they meet with some external necessity and chastisement and are thus forcibly compelled by their misfortunes to be reasonable.

…just as a conflagration does not often begin in sacred or public places, but some lamp left neglected in a house or some rubbish causes a great flame and works public destruction, so disorder in a state is not always kindled by contentions about public matters, but frequently differences arising from private affairs and offenses pass thence into public life and throw the whole state into confusion.

…rivalries affecting public interests, if private enmities are done away with, become of slight importance and do no serious or incurable harm.

***

That We Ought Not to Borrow

…loans are not made to people in need, but to those who wish to acquire some superfluity for themselves. And a man produces a witness and a surety to aver that, since the man has property, he serves credit, whereas, since he has it, he ought not to be borrowing.

Being unable to carry the burden of poverty, you put the money-lender upon your back, a burden difficult for even the rich to bear.

…if we were content with the necessaries of life, the race of money-lenders would be as non-existent as that of Centaurs and Gorgons….