Clemens von Metternich: [A] Confession of Faith, 1820 13

Kings have to calculate the chances of their very existence in the immediate future; passions are let loose. Two elements alone remain in all their strength, and never cease to exercise their indestructible influence with equal power. These are the precepts of morality, religious as well as social, and the necessities created by locality. Attempts to swerve from these bases will lead to a state of convulsion. Religion, morality, legislation, economy, politics, administration, all have become common and accessible to everyone. The world desires to be governed by facts and according to justice, not by phrases and theories; the first need of society is to be maintained by strong authority and not to govern itself. In comparing the number of contests between parties in mixed governments, and that of just complaints caused by aberrations of power in a Christian state, the comparison would not be in favor of the new doctrines.