"Divine right of kings means the divine right of anyone who can get uppermost"
- Herbert Spencer
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This quote by Herbert Spencer recommends that the concept of the divine right of kings, which asserts that emperors obtain their authority from God, is not completely true or reasonable. According to Spencer, the real divine right is had by anybody who manages to take and preserve power, regardless of their qualifications, character, or altruism. Simply put, the ability to rule and control is viewed as a magnificent gift that is bestowed upon those who are strong and cunning enough to declare it. This concept suggests that the legitimacy of rulership is not based upon magnificent authority but rather on a type of power politics.
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