He is one of those wise philanthropists who, in a time of famine,
would vote for nothing but a read more

He is one of those wise philanthropists who, in a time of famine,
would vote for nothing but a supply of toothpicks.

I court not the votes of the fickle mob.
[Lat., Non ego ventosae plebis suffragia venor.]

I court not the votes of the fickle mob.
[Lat., Non ego ventosae plebis suffragia venor.]

Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than
Christianity has made them good.

Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than
Christianity has made them good.

Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half
completed, while millions of freeman with votes in their hands read more

Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half
completed, while millions of freeman with votes in their hands
are left without education.

Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of read more

Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual).

Perhaps America will one day go fascist democratically, by popular vote.

Perhaps America will one day go fascist democratically, by popular vote.

I always voted at my party's call,
And I never thought of thinking of myself at all.

I always voted at my party's call,
And I never thought of thinking of myself at all.

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to read more

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right

The people who cast the votes don't decide an election, the people who count the votes do.

The people who cast the votes don't decide an election, the people who count the votes do.