Saturday 19 October 2013

1159, Policraticus, John of Salisbury.



The Body Social




The position of the head in the republic is occupied... by a prince subject only to God and to those who act in His place on earth, inasmuch as in the human body the head is stimulated and ruled by the soul. The place of the heart is occupied by the senate, from which proceeds the beginning of good and bad works. The duties of the ears, eyes and mouth are claimed by the judges and governors of provinces. The hands coincide with officials and soldiers. Those who always assist the prince are comparable to the flanks. Treasurers and record keepers... resemble the shape of the stomach and intestines... Further-more, the feet coincide with peasants perpetually bound to the soil.

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