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Government Quotes

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Government Quotes

“We profess to be republicans, and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible; for this divine book, above all others, favors that equality among mankind, that respect for just laws, and all those sober and frugal virtues which constitute the soul of republicanism.”

Source: Essays: Literary, Moral and Philosophical

“What other nations call religious toleration, we call religious rights. They are not exercised in virtue of governmental indulgence, but as rights, of which government cannot deprive any portion of citizens, however small.”

Government Nations Religious Virtue Rights Citizens Portions Indulgence Toleration Religious Rights

Author:Richard Mentor Johnson

“In matters of government, justice means force as well as virtue.”

Wells Mean Matter Government Force Justice Virtue

Author:Napoleon Bonaparte

“A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its dependencies, ultimately falls into decay; its free government is transformed into a tyranny; it disregards the principles which it should preserve, and finally degenerates into despotism. The distinguishing characteristic of small republics is stability: the character of large republics is mutability.”

“Relegating conservation to government is like relegating virtue to the Sabbath. Turns over to professionals what should be daily work of amateurs .”

Should Government Turns Virtue Conservation Sabbath Daily Work

Book:Building

Source: Building

“Neither an enlightened philosophy, nor all the political wisdom of Rome, nor even the faith and virtue of the Christians availed against the incorrigible tradition of antiquity. Something was wanted, beyond all the gifts of reflection and experience - a faculty of self government and self control, developed like its language in the fibre of a nation, and growing with its growth.”

“lf the attribute of popular government in peace is virtue, the attribute of popular government in revolution is at one and the same time virtue and terror, virtue without which terror is fatal, terror without which virtue is impotent. The terror is nothing but justice, prompt, severe, inflexible; it is thus an emanation of virtue.”

Government Justice Virtue Revolution Terror Attributes Severe Prompts

Author:Maximilien Robespierre

“Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity.”

Humans Government Humanity Human Beings Virtue Rights Human Rights Privilege Abortion Entitlement Pro Life Right To Life Abortion Rights Human Rights Day Anti Abortion Catholic Pro Life

Author:Mother Teresa

“I go by the great republican principle, that the people will have the virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom [to the offices of government].”

People Men Government Principles Virtue Republican Office Select

Author:James Madison

“The government of a country never gets ahead of the religion of a country. There is no way by which we can substitute the authority of the law for the virtues of men.”

Men Way Country Government Law Virtue Authority Substitutes Get Ahead

Author:Calvin Coolidge

“The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved on the emperors all the executive powers of government. During a happy period (A.D. 98-180) of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtue and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the two Antonines.”

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“That public virtue which among the ancients was denominated patriotism, is derived from a strong sense of our own interest in the preservation and prosperity of the free government of which we are members. Such a sentiment, which had rendered the legions of the republic almost invincible, could make but a very feeble impression on the mercenary servants of a despotic prince; and it became necessary to supply that defect by other motives, of a different, but not less forcible nature; honour and religion.”

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“The two Antonines (for it is of them that we are now speaking) governed the Roman world forty-two years, with the same invariable spirit of wisdom and virtue. ... Their united reigns are possibly the only period of history in which the happiness of a great people was the sole object of government.”

People World Years Two Government Spirit United History Virtue Objects Periods Forty Two Years Sole Reign Great People Roman Empire

Book:The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition