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Government Quotes

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Government Quotes

“I fear you do not fully comprehend the danger of abridging the liberties of the people. Nothing but the sternest necessity can ever justify it. A government had better go to the extreme of toleration, than to do aught that could be construed into an interference with, or to jeopardize in any degree, the common rights of its citizens.”

PeopleGovernmentCommonLibertyRightsDangerCitizensDegreesExtremesJustifyInterferenceTolerationJeopardize
Book:State papers, 1861-1865
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“There is danger that totalitarian governments, not subject to vigorous popular debate, will underestimate the will and unity of democratic societies where vital interests are concerned.”

GovernmentInterestSubjectsDangerConcernedDemocraticUnityDebateUnderestimateVigorousDemocratic SocietyTotalitarian Government
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961
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“Had not a conviction of the danger to which an unlimited occupation of the executive chair would expose the republican Constitution of our Government, made it conscientiously a duty to retire when I did, the fear of becoming a dotard and of being insensible of it, would of itself have resisted all solicitations to remain.”

MadeGovernmentDangerDutyBecomingRepublicanConstitutionConvictionMade ItChairsExecutivesOccupationRetiringUnlimitedInsensibleSolicitation
Book:The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private : published by the order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the original manuscripts, deposited in the Department of State
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“Jefferson refused to pin his hopes on the occasional success of honest and unambitious men; on the contrary, the great danger was that philosophers would be lulled into complacence by the accidental rise of a Franklin or a Washington. Any government which made the welfare of men depend on the character of their governors was an illusion.”

MenMadeCharacterGovernmentWould BeHonestDangerDependsIllusionPhilosopherContraryWelfareGovernorsPinsOccasionalFranklin
Book:The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson
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“Avarice, the spur of industry, is so obstinate a passion, and works its way through so many real dangers and difficulties, that it is not likely to be scared by an imaginary danger, which is so small, that it scarcely admits of calculation. Commerce, therefore, in my opinion, is apt to decay in absolute governments, not because it is there less secure, but because it is less honourable.”

WayRealGovernmentPassionOpinionDangerIndustryDifficultyAbsolutesScaredSecureImaginaryDecayCommerceCalculationsAvariceSpursObstinate
Author:David Hume
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“[On the Internet and activism:] The danger of the Internet is cocooning with the like-minded online - of sending an email or twitter and confusing that with action - while the real corporate and military and government centers of power go right on. In a way, the highest purpose of the Internet is to bring us together for empathy and action. After all, the reflector cells and empathy-producing chemicals in our brains only work when we're physically together with all five senses. You can't raise a baby online.”

WayRealGovernmentActionTogetherPurposeBrainFiveMilitaryDangerBabyInternetHighestEmpathyRaisesActivismSensesCellsCorporateOnlineChemicalsEmailConfusingFive Senses
Author:Gloria Steinem
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“There is no slight danger from general ignorance; and the only choice which Providence has graciously left to a vicious government is either to fall by the people, if they are suffered to become enlightened, or with them, if they are kept enslaved and ignorant.”

PeopleIfsGovernmentChoicesFallLeftDangerIgnoranceIgnorantEnlightenedProvidenceVicious
Book:The Friend: a series of essays ... First American, from the second London edition
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