Quotable quotes of the day....
These Founders knew full well that, as stated by historian and moralist Baron Acton in 1887,
By the word "Great," Acton was not implying that such men truly are great men, but rather that such men are recognized, with a place in history texts, for their position of power and authority. Such men conveniently forget that the true purpose of their role is to humbly serve the true interests of the people - not to burden the People and beat them into submission.
They [political parties] serve to organize factions…to put in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of the party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority…Let me… warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirity of party…The alternate domination of one faction over another, shapened by the spirit of revenge…has perpetrated the most horrid enormities…It [the contention between the parties] serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. (from George Washington’s Farewell Address)
In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution. - Thomas Jefferson
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."
Comment