“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves” — William Pitt (the Younger), British Prime Minister at the age of 24 and for all but three of the next 23 years until his death in 1806 at the age of 46. He was also Chancellor of the Exchequer for most of his time as P.M. This remark is from a speech in the House of Commons (18 November, 1783).