authority balance Quotes

A government must govern, must prescribe and enforce laws within its sphere or cease to be a government. Moreover, the individual must be independent and free within his own sphere or cease to be an individual. The fundamental question ... is now, and always will be through what adjustments, by what actions, these principles may be applied.

If the state is strong, it crushes us. If it is weak, we perish.

A statesman gains little by the arbitrary exercise of ironclad authority upon all occasions that offer, for this wounds the just pride of his subordinates, and thus tends to undermine his strength. A little concession, now and then, where it can do no harm is the wiser policy

I am possessed of two separate powers; the one in esse and the other in posse. I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything. But I am President also of the Senate.

The culminating point of administration is to know well how much power, great or small, we ought to use in all circumstances.

The coach should be the absolute boss, but he still should maintain an open mind.

[V]igor of government is essential to the security of liberty.

Otherwise we don't run the government the government runs us

The comparative view of the powers of the magistrates, in two remarkable instances, is alone sufficient to represent the whole system of German manners. The disposal of the landed property within their district was absolutely vested in their hands, and they distributed it every year according to a new division. At the same time, they were not authorised to punish with death, to imprison, or even to strike, a private citizen.

It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated.