What Thomas Carlyle thinks about government

@thomas-carlyle · 20 positions

Scottish essayist and historian (1795 to 1881); author of On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History.

Thomas Carlyle did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Thomas Carlyle on government. See everyone on government

2 dated positions, c. 1840–1841, in their own words. Our reading of what Thomas Carlyle has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. c. 1840–1841

   Our readingSociety and its ranks are founded on the worship of heroes

   Their wordsSociety is founded on Hero-worship. All dignities of rank, on which human association rests, are what we may call a Heroarchy (Government of Heroes),—or a Hierarchy, for it is "sacred" enough withal!

   ↗On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (1840-1841)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book

3. c. 1840–1841

   Our readingRaising a country's ablest man to the supreme place and revering him gives it a perfect government

   Their wordsFind in any country the Ablest Man that exists there; raise him to the supreme place, and loyally reverence him: you have a perfect government for that country; no ballot-box, parliamentary eloquence, voting, constitution-building, or other machinery whatsoever can improve it a whit.

   ↗On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (1840-1841)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book