Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought read more

Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.

Public confidence in the integrity of the Government is indispensable to faith in democracy; and when we lose faith in read more

Public confidence in the integrity of the Government is indispensable to faith in democracy; and when we lose faith in the system, we have lost faith in everything we fight and spend for.

Governments last as long as the undertaxed can defend themselves against the overtaxed.

Governments last as long as the undertaxed can defend themselves against the overtaxed.

So then because some towns in England are not represented,
America is to have no representative at all. They read more

So then because some towns in England are not represented,
America is to have no representative at all. They are "our
children"; but when children ask for bread we are not to give a
stone.

The government is us; we are the government, you and I.

The government is us; we are the government, you and I.

If you want to understand your government, don't begin by reading the Constitution. (It conveys precious little of the flavor read more

If you want to understand your government, don't begin by reading the Constitution. (It conveys precious little of the flavor of today's statecraft.) Instead, read selected portions of the Washington telephone directory containing listings for all the organizations with titles beginning with the word National.

You can't run a government solely on a business basis ... Government should be human. It should have a heart.

You can't run a government solely on a business basis ... Government should be human. It should have a heart.

The worst government is the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics read more

The worst government is the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression.

Nothing's more dull and negligent
Than an old, lazy government,
That knows no interest of state,
read more

Nothing's more dull and negligent
Than an old, lazy government,
That knows no interest of state,
But such as serves a present strait.