This above quotation is attributed to Oscar R. Benavides, President of Peru from 1933-1939. While on the surface, this quote seems rather pithy and very much to the point, it also should be seen, for all those that believe in equality and in particular, equality under the law, as absolute anathema. Unfortunately, this quote appears to represent the thinking of far too many repressive leaders around this world, in which, those that are well connected with that leader, receive not only favorable treatment from that ruler, but to a large extent, pretty much, anything that they so desire, as long as they do their part in being that good and loyal friend specifically to that leader.
On the other hand, those that aren't tight with the leader of their nation, and to a large extent, make it their point to be a real constant thorn in their ruler's side, are going to be susceptible to a really rough ride; especially when the legal arm of the country, and the foot soldiers that support such, owe their allegiance not to their fellow citizens or to the people, in whole, but instead are beholden only to that which is the master of their domain. Therefore, laws are propagated by these repressive nations, in which, these laws cover just about ever contingency, and area of human interaction, under the guise that these laws are for the protection and benefit of the people, but in actuality, these laws are created specifically so that anyone and any organization at any time, is vulnerable to being arrested, harassed, ostracized, or convicted.
So then, it is fair to say, that any country in which those that rule that nation, have the inherent power which seemingly cannot be balanced by any other comparable power through its legislature branch or judicial branch or even social protest, is a country in which the person or persons so leading that nation, has the type of power that is corruptible; so that, those that are friendly and useful to that regime get everything, and those that are not friendly, suffer dearly. In other words, when there is anyone within a nation, or an organization within a nation, that is effectively above the law, or interprets the law in only the form that supports that most important person or organization, exclusively; so as to subsequently harm the public, at large, those citizens within that nation are not free.
A nation that is truly of, by, and for the people is defined as a nation in which the laws are equally applied to everyone, without exception to anyone. This signifies that no nation, in which certain individuals or certain organizations are accorded special privileges, that take thereby from the people their unalienable rights cannot possibly be a nation that is of, by, and for the people, but is instead, that sort of nation, in which the very few are accorded the lion's share of benefits, whereas the masses are sold a real bogus bag of goods, while being constantly subjected to arbitrary laws, selectively enforced against them.
All those select few that have the formidable power to make or break people or organizations, in which further they are protected in their actions, by the law, are those that will never voluntarily do the right thing, because it is far too easy and tempting for them to do the wrong thing.