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Quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“All men would be masters of others, and no man is lord of himself.”

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born on August 28, 1749, and died on March 22, 1832, was a prominent German writer, thinker, and scientist. He is one of the greatest writers in German literary history and his works have had a profound impact on the world. His most famous works include 'Faust' and 'The Sorrows of Young Werther'. 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