Rule by Personality: Conclusion
Rule by personality cult has fallen into disrepute in our century, because the leaders who have encouraged such or merely found themselves at the center of such a cult have not been the benevolent absolutist that Elizabeth was. She had the welfare of her people at heart, and she concentrated on peace rather than war, strengthening her own country and only coincidentally weakening all others, unlike the personality cult leaders with whom we are more familiar. This is the most important lesson of Elizabeth's reign: when a nation is ruled by personality, the success of that rule depends entirely on the goodwill of the person at the center of the cult.
Elizabeth’s last address to Commons (the "Golden Speech" of 20 November 1601) is her own best epitaph:
And though have had and have many mightier and wiser princes sitting in this seat, yet you never had, nor shall have, any love you better.
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