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Quote by James F. Cooper

“The very existence of government at all, infers inequality. The citizen who is preferred to office becomes the superior of those who are not, so long he is the repository of power.”

Author

James F. Cooper

James F. Cooper was an American writer renowned for his historical novels, which often depicted the life on the American frontier. His works are characterized by their vivid portrayal of characters and social changes. Cooper was born on September 15, 1789, and died on September 14, 1851. more

“It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity.”

Source: The works of Alexander Hamilton; compris. his corresp. and his polit. and official writings, excl. of the federalist, civil and military. Ed. by John C. Hamilton

“All good government must begin at home. It is useless to make good laws for bad people; what is wanted is this, to subdue the tyranny of the human heart.”

People Humans Heart Home Government Wanted Law Tyranny Useless Human Heart Bad People

Book:Speech in Season

Source: Speech in Season

“What experience and history teach is this - that nations and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted on any lessons they might have drawn from it. Variant: What experience and history teach is this - that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it.”

People Government Might Nations Principles Teach Lessons

Author:Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

“The provisions of the Constitution are not mathematical formulas having their essence in their form; they are organic, living institutions transplanted from English soil. Their significance is vital, not formal; it is to be gathered not simply by taking the words and a dictionary, but by considering their origin and the line of their growth.”

Government Form Growth Lines Essence Constitution Institutions Mathematical Soil Significance Formulas Considering Formal Dictionary Provision

Author:Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

“Nothing appears more surprising to those, who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few; and the implicit submission, with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.”

Men Humans Government Eye Passion Philosophical Affair Sentiments Surprising Rulers Submission Implicit Easiness