Who said “The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.”?

Disputed

It's credited to Voltaire, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for Voltaire.

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“The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.”
— Voltaire
DisputedNo reliable early source found for Voltaire. · evidenceGovernment
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APA

“The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.” [Quotation attributed to Voltaire]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/15797-the-best-government-is-a-benevolent-tyranny-tempered/

MLA

“The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/15797-the-best-government-is-a-benevolent-tyranny-tempered/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.” Attributed to Voltaire. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/15797-the-best-government-is-a-benevolent-tyranny-tempered/.

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