The gentleman puts me in mind of an old hen which persists in setting after her eggs are taken away.

[the framers of the Constitution] intended our government should be a republic, which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism.

Democracy, in its best state, is but the politics of Bedlam; while kept chained, its thoughts are frantic, but when it breaks loose, it kills the keeper, fires the building, and perishes.

Time never fails to bring every exalted reputation to a strict scrutiny.

The House is composed of very good men, not shining, but honest and reasonably well-informed, and in time will be found to improve, and not much inferior in eloquence, science, and dignity, to the British Commons. They are patriotic enough, and I believe there are more stupid (as well as more shining) people in the latter, in proportion.

The happiness of a people, and the good order and preservation of civil government, essentially depend on piety, religion, and morality.

A government by the passions of the multitude, or, no less correctly, according to the vices, and ambitions of their leaders is a democracy.