The quote database

Great distance in either time or space has wonderful power to lull and render quiescent the human mind.

What I do say is that no man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.

When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government,--that is despotism.

His duty is to administer the present Government as it came to his hands and to transmit it unimpaired by him to his successor.

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.

If the minority will not acquiesce, the majority must, or the Government must cease.

The engine can arrange and combine its numerical quantities exactly as if they were letters or any other general symbols; and in fact it might bring out its results in algebraical notation, were provisions made accordingly.

Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.

On the other hand, in a State where the citizens are nearly on an equality, it becomes difficult for them to preserve their independence against the aggressions of power.

Unable to perceive a single chance of regaining their equality, they give up to despair, and allow themselves to fall below the dignity of human nature.

the liberty of association is become a necessary guarantee against the tyranny of the majority

The happy and the powerful do not go into exile, and there are no surer guarantees of equality among men than poverty and misfortune.

In the ages of equality all men are independent of each other, isolated and weak.

Considering standing armies as dangerous to free governments in time of peace, I shall not seek to enlarge our present establishment, nor disregard that salutary lesson of political experience which teaches that the military should be held subordinate to the civil power.

In administering the laws of Congress I shall keep steadily in view the limitations as well as the extent of the Executive power trusting thereby to discharge the functions of my office without transcending its authority.

The laws of the United States must be executed.

The wisdom of man never yet contrived a system of taxation that would operate with perfect equality.

Our Constitution does not contain the absurdity of giving power to make laws, and another power to resist them.

The loss of liberty, of all good government, of peace, plenty, and happiness, must inevitably follow a dissolution of the Union.

The ancient republics absorbed the individual in the state--prescribed his religion and controlled his activity.

The Constitution to which life was thus imparted contains within itself ample resources for its own preservation.

Now military governments, established for an indefinite period, would have offered no security for the early suppression of discontent, would have divided the people into the vanquishers and the vanquished, and would have envenomed hatred rather than have restored affection.

The powers of patronage and rule which would have been exercised, under the President, over a vast and populous and naturally wealthy region are greater than, unless under extreme necessity, I should be willing to intrust to any one man.

Nay, ’tis woman’s strongest vindication for speaking that the world needs to hear her voice.

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.