William Henry Harrison Quotes

People don't seem to understand that the separation of powers is not about the power of these branches; it's there to protect individual liberty - it's there to protect us from the concentration of power.

This administration seems intent on accumulating unchecked power.

Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression.

... a consolidation of unchecked and despotic power in the House of Representatives ...

An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies of magistracy as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.

Those who seek always to limit the power of government are of good heart and conscience. Those who seek to expand the power of government are base tyrants.

The filibuster is the most important check on raw Presidential power.

Power long entrusted either to single persons, or to bodies of men, generally increases itself so greatly as to become subversive of the intentions, and dangerous to the rights of those who delegated it.

Overly concentrated power, whether in public, private or even in civic hands is an invitation to abuse.

The most cogent reason for restricting the interference of government is the great evil of adding unnecessarily to its power.

You can't give the government the power to do good without also giving it the power to do bad - in fact, to do anything it wants.

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.

I don't want to hear again from the attorney general or anyone on this floor that this government has shown it can be trusted to use the power we give it with restraint and care.

Hoover was a patriot in his heart, but he definitely exceeded his power.

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.

I believe that Americans should be deeply skeptical of government power. You cannot trust people in power. The founders knew that. That's why they divided power among three branches, to set interest against interest.

The Constitution was about a limitation on power.

I suppose this [Watergate] is an example of the dangers of letting down your guard against increased executive powers–no matter what the circumstances. Not that the danger was not real, but in this case the risk of the remedy was as great as the disease. There was a willingness to accept without challenge the Executive's claim to increased power. That's why we acted as we did, and it was a mistake.

The judicial cannot prescribe to the legislative departments of the government limitations upon exercise of its acknowledged powers. The power to tax may be exercised oppressively on persons, but the responsibility … not to the courts, but to the people by whom its members are elected.

The theory of our governments is opposed to the deposit of unlimited power anywhere. The executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches of these governments are all of limited and defined powers

The people in Congress have no interest in preserving the Constitution because they are interested in power.

Separation of powers means that the president cannot control Congress.

The greatest threat to our freedom is an all powerful federal government.

Congress ... is far more than the simple, limited advisory council that most Presidents would like to maintain.

The powers that are surrendered [by Congress] to one President remain to be used by others.