If one believes the notes of Las Casas (A Manuscript Found in the Portfolio of Las Casas, Containing Maxims and Observations of Napoleon: Collected During the Last Two Years of His Residence at St. Helena. Published by A. Black, 1820), Napoleon said:

"When the bulk of a nation is corrupted, the laws are useless, without despotism."

There may be better ones, this was thr first, so I could not resist. - R