Richard Price: A Discourse on the Love of our Country

As a lawyer, I am interested in the founding ideas behind the American Constitution; and no doubt one of the major necessary precedents was the Glorious Revolution of 1688.  This morning I stumbled across Price's "A Discourse on the Love of our Country." (http://www.constitution.org/price/price_8.htm)

A great, short read.  This paragraph illustrates the real revolution of thought brought about by the Glorious Revolution, at time the notions absolute monarchy were successfully overthrown.  This is the foundation for American political thought.

"Civil governors are properly the servants of the public and a King is no more than the first servant of the public, created by it, maintained by it, and responsible to it; and all the homage paid him is due to him on no other account than his relation to the public. His sacredness is the sacredness of the community. His authority is the authority of the community, and the term Majesty, which it is usual to apply to him, is by no means his own majesty, but the majesty of the people. "