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One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected.

The collisions of party spirit which originate in speculative opinions or in different views of administrative policy are in their nature transitory.

The power of one person — Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala — one person can change the world by giving people hope.

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

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

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.

No political party can long pursue advantage at the expense of public honor or by rude and indecent methods without protest and fatal disaffection in its own body.

Thus the Analytical Engine will possess a library of its own. Every set of cards once made will at any future time reproduce the calculations for which it was first arranged.

The basic condition of human life is union; the organic social relation, the interchange of functional service, wherein the individual is most advantaged, not by his own exertions for his own goods, but by the exchange of his exertions with the exertions of others for goods produced by them together.

Man can only receive what he sees himself receiving.

The democratic aspiration is no mere recent phase in human history.

The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder.

Liberty itself will find in such a government, with powers properly distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian.

The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.

Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.

Under our system there is a remedy for all mere political evils in the sound sense and sober judgment of the people.

Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path.

One person with a belief is a social power equal to ninety-nine who have only interests.

The spectacle is exhibited to the world of a government deriving its powers from the consent of the governed and having imparted to it only so much power as is necessary for its successful operation.

In this the Endowments of Men are so employed, that the Friend and the Governor are united in one, and oppressive Customs come to an End.

It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.

When the world was over run with tyranny the least remove therefrom was a glorious rescue.

The enormous expense of governments has provoked people to think, by making them feel; and when once the veil begins to rend, it admits not of repair.

Desire is a manifestation of power.