Frederick the Great: An Essay on Forms of Government
Frederick here offers the classic justification for the traditional sovereign who, by comprehending all interests, is
alone qualified to promote the common interest.
The sovereign is attached by indissoluble ties to the body of the state; hence it follows that he, by repercussion, is
sensible to all the ills which afflict his subjects; and the people, in like manner, suffer from the misfortunes which
affect the sovereign. There is but one general good, which is that of the state….The sovereign represents the state;
he and his people form but one body, which can only be happy as far as united by concord. The prince is to the
nation he governs what the head is to a man; it is his duty to see, to think, and act for the whole community, so that
he may procure it every advantage of which it is capable….Such are in general the duties imposed upon a prince,
from which, in order that he may never depart, he ought often to recollect that he himself is but a man, like the least
of his subjects. If he be the first general, the first minister of the realm, it is not so that he should shelter in the
shadow of authority, but that he should fulfill the duties of such titles. He is only the first servant of the state, who is
obliged to act with probity and prudence; and to remain as totally disinterested as if he were each moment liable to
render an account of his administration to his fellow citizens.
SOURCE: As quoted in Greaves, Richard L., et. al, Civilizations of the World: The Human Adventure (New York:
Longman, 1997), p. 696.
