H. Beam Piper

I’ve always wondered whether the theory of the divine right of kings was invented by the kings, to establish their authority over the people, or by the priests, to establish their authority over the kings. It works about as well one way as the other.

H. Beam Piper, “Temple Trouble” (Astounding Science Fiction, April 1951), collected in Paratime (1981) and The Complete Paratime (2001).