The only kind of freedom that the mob can imagine is freedom to annoy and oppress its betters, and that read more

The only kind of freedom that the mob can imagine is freedom to annoy and oppress its betters, and that is precisely the kind that we mainly have.

'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, read more

'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our read more

Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?

Here the free spirit of mankind, at length,
Throws its last fetters off; and who shall place
read more

Here the free spirit of mankind, at length,
Throws its last fetters off; and who shall place
A limit to the giant's unchained strength,
Or curb his swiftness in the forward race?

Sir, I would rather be right than be President.

Sir, I would rather be right than be President.

When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.

When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.

It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not read more

It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.

Hope for a season bade the world farewell,
And Freedom shrieked as Kosciusko fell!
. . . read more

Hope for a season bade the world farewell,
And Freedom shrieked as Kosciusko fell!
. . . .
O'er Prague's proud arch the fires of ruin glow.

No serious historian of politics would imagine that he had accounted for the protective tariff of the system of bounties read more

No serious historian of politics would imagine that he had accounted for the protective tariff of the system of bounties or subsidies, for the monetary and banking laws, for the state of law in regard to corporate privileges and immunities, for the actual status of property rights, for agricultural or for labor policies, until he had gone behind the general claims and the abstract justifications and had identified the specifically interested groups which promoted the specific law.