“Democracy is a slow process of stumbling to the right decision instead of going straight forward to the wrong one.” “It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.” “No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.” “If the meanest man in the republic is deprived of his rights then every man in the republic is deprived of his rights.” “If there have been those who doubted whether a confederated representative democracy were a government competent to the wise and orderly management of the common concerns of a mighty nation, those doubts have been dispelled.” “Not only every juror's right but his Duty … to find the Verdict according to his own best Understanding, Judgment and Conscience, tho in Direct opposition to the Direction of the Court.” John Adams, A Defense of the American Constitutions, 1787

“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.” My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.” “I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”

It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right … and a desire to know.” “The Spirit that prevails among Men of all degrees, all ages and sexes is the Spirit of Liberty.” “The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern.

Tyranny quotes