Augustine and the Unjust Rule

City of God, in my estimation, is one of the most important books of all time. No hyperbole.

One section, which I found to be particularly fascinating, is copied herein:

Justice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms? The band itself is made up of men; it is ruled by the authority of a prince, it is knit together by the pact of the confederacy; the booty is divided by the law agreed on. If, by the admittance of abandoned men, this evil increases to such a degree that it holds places, fixes abodes, takes possession of cities, and subdues peoples, it assumes the more plainly the name of a kingdom, because the reality is now manifestly conferred on it, not by the removal of covetousness, but by the addition of impunity. Indeed, that was an apt and true reply which was given to Alexander the Great by a pirate who had been seized. For when that king had asked the man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, he answered with bold pride, What you mean by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, while you who does it with a great fleet are styled emperor.

Aside from the thoughts about our own republic this reading stirred up, it made me to wonder this: is just basis the lone savior of all true goodness? I don't say "just" as in "only," but just as in "fair and right." Indeed, true goodness can come from redemption, but even that must have a just basis.

Good thinking, Augustine. You're a saint.