Finally, Prajadhipok had certain personal qualities which added to the difficulties of his position. Modest, if not shy, he had an unusual willingness to admit mistakes and to be critical of himself. But what may be virtues in ordinary men may not necessarily be so in an absolute ruler, for the perpetuation of the absolute monarchy depended in part on the maintenance of the illusion of infallibility, or at least an uncommon order of perfection, in the Lords of Life. Prajadhipok’s striking honesty and candor in public as well as private could only encourage those who considered themselves better qualified to govern.

– Extracted from Benjamin A. Batson (1974), Siam’s political future: Documents from the end of the absolute monarchy, Ithaca: Southeast Asia Program, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University, Data paper no. 96, p. 6.