The tendency of taxation is, to create a class of persons, who do not labour: to take from those who do labour the produce of that labour, and to give it to those who do not labour.
William CobbettIt is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as the smallness of his wants.
William CobbettNorwich is a very fine city, and the castle, which stands in the middle of it, on a hill, is truly majestic.
William CobbettMen of integrity are generally pretty obstinate, in adhering to an opinion once adopted.
William CobbettFreedom is not an empty sound; it is not an abstract idea; it is not a thing that nobody can feel. It means, - and it means nothing else, - the full and quiet enjoyment of your own property. If you have not this, if this be not well secured to you, you may call yourself what you will, but you are a slave.
William CobbettYou may twist the word freedom as long as you please, but at last it comes to quiet enjoyment of your own property, or it comes to nothing. Why do men want any of those things that are called political rights and privileges? Why do they, for instance, want to vote at elections for members of parliament? Oh! Because they shall then have an influence over the conduct of those members. And of what use is that? Oh! Then they will prevent the members from doing wrong.
William Cobbett