76
The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.
The complete collection
All quotes
Every quote we hold, 2473 of them from 233 people across 1123 works. Filter it, sort it, and follow any citation back to the source.
2418 checked at source
Filter the collection
Category
Feeling
Attribution
77
The more the Afro-American yields and cringes and begs, the more he has to do so, the more he is insulted, outraged and lynched.
78
By the theory of our Government majorities rule, but this right is not an arbitrary or unlimited one.
79
Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires.
80
the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.
81
Can authority be more amiable and respectable when it descends from accidents or institutions established in remote antiquity than when it springs fresh from the hearts and judgments of an honest and enlightened people?
82
It is their power and majesty that is reflected, and only for their good, in every legitimate government, under whatever form it may appear.
83
No body can give more power than he has himself; and he that cannot take away his own life, cannot give another power over it.
84
It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.
85
Any broader view of this authority would effectively empower a majority to silence dissidents simply as a matter of personal predilections.
86
Only an unmitigated despotism demands that the individual citizen shall obey unconditionally every mandate of persons in authority.
87
The interest of the people is that there should be full liberty of censure on every public officer, and on every public act or measure.
88
Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.
John Stuart Millverified·Inaugural Address Delivered to the University of St Andrews·February 1, 1867
89
A Sultan's favourite slave has slaves under her, over whom she tyrannizes; but the desirable thing would be that she should neither have slaves nor be a slave.
90
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.
91
Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul.
92
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.
93
Decency, security, and liberty alike demand that government officials shall be subjected to the same rules of conduct that are commands to the citizen.
94
Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent.
95
If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.
96
The thoughtful framers of our Constitution legislated for our country as they found it.
97
The beauty of our system of government consists, and its safety and durability must consist, in avoiding mutual collisions and encroachments and in the regular separate action of all, while each is revolving in its own distinct orbit.
98
The law is the only sure protection of the weak and the only efficient restraint upon the strong.
99
injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer
100
princes ought to leave affairs of reproach to the management of others, and keep those of grace in their own hands