“You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”
― The Federalist Papers
― The Federalist Papers
“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
― The Federalist Papers
― The Federalist Papers
“A powerful, victorious ally is yet another name for master.”
― The Federalist Papers
― The Federalist Papers
“The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.”
― The Federalist Papers
― The Federalist Papers
“On the other hand, it will be equally forgotten that the vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty; that, in the contemplation of a sound and well-informed judgment, their interest can never be separated; and that a dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidden appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government. History will teach us that the former has been found a much more certain road to the introduction of despotism than the latter, and that of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.
”
― The Federalist Papers
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― The Federalist Papers
Beau’s 2025 Year in Books
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