Free institutions are not the property of any majority. They do not confer upon majorities unlimited powers. The rights of the majority are limited rights. They are limited not only by the constitutional guarantees but by the moral principle implied in those guarantees. That principle is that men may not use the facilities of liberty to impair them. No man may invoke a right in order to destroy it.
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A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.
A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.
Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is read more
Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is doubly dangerous.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violen trevolution inevitable.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violen trevolution inevitable.
One of the peculiarities of the American Revolution was that its leaders pinned their hopes on the organization of decision-making read more
One of the peculiarities of the American Revolution was that its leaders pinned their hopes on the organization of decision-making units, the structuring of their incentives, and the counterbalancing of the units against one another, rather than on the more usual (and more exciting) principle of substituting "the good guys" for "the bad guys.".
Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.
Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.
Perhaps America will one day go fascist democratically, by popular vote.
Perhaps America will one day go fascist democratically, by popular vote.
Why do grandparents and grandchildren get along so well? They have the same enemy -- the mother.
Why do grandparents and grandchildren get along so well? They have the same enemy -- the mother.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.
The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth.
The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth.
