Quotation by Samuel Butler

Governments like natural bodies have their time of growing perfection and declining, and according to their constitutions, some hold out longer, and some decay sooner than otherse, but all in their beginnings and infancies are subject to so many infirmities and imperfections, that what Solomon said of a monarchy, "Woe to that kingdom whose prince is a child," may be more justly said of a new republic and we may with as much reason say, "Woe be to that people that live under a young government."