If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare.

The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare.

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought read more

Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.

The declaration that our People are hostile to a government made
by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, read more

The declaration that our People are hostile to a government made
by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, is an
insult.

Talk is cheap - except when Congress does it.

Talk is cheap - except when Congress does it.

Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work.

Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work.

I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our read more

I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.

A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.

A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.