“We do not need to get good laws to restrain bad people. We need to get good people to restrain us from bad laws.” G.K. Chesterton

And again from ‘ The Magicians Nephew’. Uncle Andrew after being chastised for lying to get his way. I think of politicians every time I read this. ————————————“Oh, I see. You mean that little boys ought to keep their promises. Very true: most right and proper, I'm sure, and I'm very glad you have been taught to do it. But of course you must understand that rules of that sort, however excellent they may be for little boys - and servants - and women - and even people in general, can't possibly be expected to apply to profound students and great thinkers and sages. No, Digory. Men like me, who possess hidden wisdom, are freed from common rules just as we are cut off from common pleasures. Ours, my boy, is a high and lonely destiny."

CS Lewis was better than most at capturing real attitudes of real people in his fictional characters. Especially those in power. This excerpt as his ‘white witch’ explains about destroying a whole world. —————————-“But the people?” gasped Digory. “What people, boy?” asked the Queen. “All the ordinary people,” said Polly, “who’d never done you any harm. And the women, and the children, and the animals.” “Don’t you understand?” said the Queen (still speaking to Digory). “I was the Queen. They were all my people. What else were they there for but to do my will?” “It was rather hard luck on them, all the same,” said he. “I had forgotten that you are only a common boy. How should you understand reasons of State?”