The State always moves slowly and grudgingly towards any purpose that accrues to society's advantage, but moves rapidly and with alacrity towards one that accrues to its own advantage; nor does it ever move towards social purposes on its own initiative, but only under heavy pressure, while its motion towards anti-social purposes is self-sprung.
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You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the read more
You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered.
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.
In America, it is indispensable that every well wisher of true liberty should understand that acts of tyranny can only read more
In America, it is indispensable that every well wisher of true liberty should understand that acts of tyranny can only proceed from the publick. The publick, then, is to be watched, in this country, as, in other countries kings and aristocrats are to be watched.
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.
The soil of their native land is dear to all the hearts of mankind.
The soil of their native land is dear to all the hearts of mankind.
I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.
I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.
In our own time we have seen domination spread over the social landscape to a point where it is beyond read more
In our own time we have seen domination spread over the social landscape to a point where it is beyond all human control. Compared to this stupendous mobilization of materials, of wealth, of human intellect, of human labor for the single goal of domination, all other recent human achievements pale to almost trivial significance. Our art, science, medicine, literature, music and "charitable" acts seem like mere droppings from a table on which gory feasts on the spoils of conquest have engaged the attention of a system whose appetite for rule is utterly unrestrained.
Discontent is likely to be highest when misery is bearable; when conditions have so improved that an ideal state seems read more
Discontent is likely to be highest when misery is bearable; when conditions have so improved that an ideal state seems almost within reach. A grievance is most poignant when almost redressed. De Tocqueville in his researches into the state of society in France before the revolution was struck by the discovery that "in no one of the periods which have followed the Revolution of 1789 has the national prosperity of France augmented more rapidly than it did in the twenty years preceding that event." He is forced to conclude that "the French found their position the more intolerable the better it became.
So far as business and money are concerned, a country gains nothing by a successful war, even though that war read more
So far as business and money are concerned, a country gains nothing by a successful war, even though that war involves the acquisition of immense new provinces.
