Every error pronounces judgment on itself when it attempts to apply its rules to the standard of truth.

Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.

Far from being the product of a democratic revolution and of an opposition to English institutions, the constitution of the United States was the result of a powerful reaction against democracy, and in favor of the traditions of the mother country.

The few have not strength to achieve great changes unaided; the many have not wisdom to be moved by truth unmixed.

The man who prefers his country before any other duty shows the same spirit as the man who surrenders every right to the state. They both deny that right is superior to authority.

Everybody likes to get as much power as circumstances allow, and nobody will vote for a self-denying ordinance.