Politics Quotes

"The instant formal government is gone, society begins to act."

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one."

"The study of true politics is the knowledge of the rights of man."

"The best Constitution would be one which could peacefully and constitutionally remove bad governors."

"I do not mean to exclude religion as a motive to action in this world; but acting, as I then did, in a political sphere, as a member of a government which was very strictly deistical, I found it necessary to exclude it from my arguments, lest it should be made a tool of by enemies."

"One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in succession is, that nature disapproves it, otherwise she would not so frequently turn it into ridicule by giving mankind an ass for a lion."

"Hereditary succession is a burlesque upon monarchy."

"Politics should serve the people, not the people serve politics."

"Politics is the art of making the possible serve the ideal."

"If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots."

"History does not record that tyrants ever decreed themselves tyrants."

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to unite the people."

"Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one."

"The free system of government rests on an enlightened electorate."

"When the whole people is the sovereign, there can be but one interest, the general good."

"No government is perfect but the republican form is the best adapted to the genius of the American people."

"True patriotism consists in supporting the Constitution even when it displeases us."

"It is a principle that the will of the majority should prevail."

"An enlightened zeal for the energy and efficiency of government will be stigmatized as the offspring of a temper fond of despotic power."

"America has a set of primary interests which ought not to be sacrificed to secondary ones."

"A republican government presupposes the capacity in its citizens for an enlightened choice."

"The civil magistrate is but the creature of the people."

"The number of States composing the Union is in essence a matter of mutual interest."

"The success of our democratic experiment rests upon the character of our citizens."

"Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice."

"The unity of the nation and the efficacy of the system depend on the proper distribution of powers."

"The curse of every nation is its government."

"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible."

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in this government, we may well despair that our country is lost."

"The grand security of human happiness must rest upon the character of the government."