“The reality is that every one males having energy must be mistrusted.” – James Madison,
Nice Quotations, p. 753
“Generally it’s stated that man can’t be trusted with the federal government of himself. Can he, then be trusted with the federal government of others? Or have we discovered angels within the type of kings to manipulate him? Let historical past reply this query.” – Thomas Jefferson, from his
first Inaugural Handle, 4 March, 1801
“However what’s authorities itself however the biggest of all reflections on human nature? If males have been angels, no authorities can be obligatory. If angels have been to manipulate males, neither exterior nor inner controls on authorities can be obligatory. In framing a authorities which is to be administered by males over males, the good issue lies on this: You have to first allow the federal government to regulate the ruled; and within the subsequent place, oblige it to regulate itself.” – James Madison, Federalist #51
“It’s hardly too robust to say that the Structure was made to protect the folks in opposition to the hazards of excellent intentions…. There are males, in all ages…who imply to manipulate nicely; however they imply to manipulate. They promise to be type masters; however they imply to be masters…. They suppose there want be however little restraint upon themselves…. The love of energy might sink too deep in their very own hearts….Maintain on, my associates to the structure and to the republic for which it stands. Miracles don’t cluster, and what has occurred as soon as in 6000 years, might not occur once more. Maintain on to the Structure, for if the American Structure ought to fail, there might be anarchy all through the world.” – Daniel Webster
“It might be a harmful delusion have been a confidence within the males of our option to silence our fears for the security of our rights; that confidence is each the place the dad or mum of despotism; free authorities is based in jealousy, and never in confidence; it’s jealousy, and never confidence, which prescribes restricted constitutions to bind down these whom we’re obliged to belief with energy; that our Structure has accordingly fastened the boundaries to which, and no farther, our confidence might go; . . . In questions of energy, then, let no extra be heard of confidence in man, however bind him down from mischief by the Chains of the Structure“ – Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the 1798 Kentucky Resolutions, #7
“Energy tends to deprave and absolute energy corrupts completely. Nice males are nearly at all times unhealthy males, even after they train affect and never authority: nonetheless extra once you superadd the tendency or the knowledge of corruption by authority. There isn’t a worse heresy than that the workplace sanctifies the holder of it.” – Lord Acton, 1887, from a letter to Bishop Creighton
“After we resist . . . concentrations of energy, we’re resisting the powers of demise, as a result of focus of energy is what at all times precedes the destruction of human liberties.” – Woodrow Wilson
“The tyrant overthrows the entire . . . structure not by seizing any new powers, however by the misuse of the facility he already possesses.” — (Cicero, The Republic II, 51)
“I insist, that if there’s something which it’s the responsibility of the entire folks to by no means entrust to any palms however their very own, that factor is the preservation and perpetuity, of their very own liberties and establishments.” — Abraham Lincoln
