Final answer:
A tyrant will always find reasons to justify their oppressive actions, often manipulating various elements of society to maintain their authority, and this has been a consistent theme throughout history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'a tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny' suggests that an oppressive leader will invariably find or create excuses to justify their tyrannical behavior. This concept speaks to the nature of absolute power and its corrupting influence. Tyrants, throughout history, have manipulated laws, ideologies, and even moral arguments to perpetuate their authority, often using economic and military might, intimidation, and brutality.
Notably, this aligns with statements in Ronald Reagan's 'Evil Empire Speech' where he mentions dictators perpetually making demands and warns against appeasement. Moreover, these ideas resonate with philosophies of limited government and the concept of throwing off abusive governments, as noted in the quote that talks about government power coming from the general will and the necessity of overthrowing abusive authorities.