Ancient Persian Government

The quote is a Zoroastrianism belief in equality, and strongly influenced Cyrus, who did base his ruling decisions on the religion.   With this belief, Cyrus was a master at winning the peace, after winning the war. 

The belief comes with a concept of individual responsibility for choosing right, and with a strong concept of forgiveness, if one does wrong but then realizes that, and becomes righteous.   Cyrus freed the Jews in Babylon and ordered Persia pay for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in was is Israel, today.   Choosing right was tolerant of religious differences, as long as the difference still came to rightness.  Every much as the religious attitude following the US institutionalizing freedom of religion and freedom of speech.  And it is believed the religion, through popularity is Mirthaism, influenced Christianity.  

Unfortunately, the religious influence on government did not last, because the religious belief was not instituted law, like the US constitution.   Government returned to the power grabbing that is traditional, and  the Magi gained a lot of power and perverted the religion with superstition.  

I really love your question and you are right.  The best of Persian government was adopted by Greeks and Roman, and the United States of America also seems an imitation of Persia's governmental order, because each state has its own constitution, as each region of Persia had its own constitution.   Perhaps nothing could be better for us to study than the birth and evolution of Persia?  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire#Government

In all fairness, it should also be said the US adopted the federation of native Americans as well.  Perhaps we should consider the possibility that humans in similar circumstances develop similar ways of managing their affairs?   I think the only time a civilization did not begin as a democracy, is when invaders basically enslaved the conquered people, and denied them equality.  

I think equally important is the religion or belief system of the people.  Zoroastrianism is an excellent belief system if it can be kept clear of superstition.  Unfortunately, the failure to have mass education, resulted in superstition and the Magi having the upper hand, and the equality and high morality of Zoroastrianism was destroyed with superstition and a power struggle.  

Perhaps also learning of the economic development and decline of Persia could help us understand the evolution and devolution of this civilization.  The leaders of Persia benefited everyone and brought about great economic prosperity, up to a point, by the time of Alexander the Great, Persia was on the decline.  People want to follow those who benefit them the most, and love to love their kings and presidents.  However,  they turn against their leaders when they believe the leaders and benefiting themselves, at their expense, and are not in fact ruling well.   Then the people will turn on them like a pack of dogs, and they will welcome the invader, or new political party, who for sure will bring in change.    But there is a danger in wanting change just for the sake of change, without a clear idea of why things are as they are (silver, gold, oil, etc. are finite and economies fall when the supply can not meet the demand), and without a clear idea of the desired goals and how to achieve them.  

God works in strange ways, and the immediate unrest in the world is a great lesson in history and reasoning.