Benjamin Constant

A score dozen and two years ago today, Benjamin Constant was born. To quote:

In a word, despotism [i.e., absolute monarchy] rules through silence and leaves man the right to remain silent; usurpation [i.e., dictatorship] condemns him to speak, it extends this persecution to the private sanctuary of his thought, and by forcing him to lie to his conscience it robs him of the last consolation which is still left the oppressed.

And:

In certain historical periods one has to make the full circle of follies in order to return to reason.

Both quotes can be found in Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn's Liberty or Equality.