When in the enfranchisement of the black men [women] saw another ignorant class of voters placed about their heads, and beheld the... danger of a distinctively "male" government, forever involving the nations of the earth in war and violence; and demanded for the protection of themselves and children, that woman's voice should be heard and her opinions in public affairs be expressed by the ballot, they were coolly told that the black man had earned the right to vote, that he had fought and bled and died for his country. It was not because the three-penny tax on tea was so exorbitant that our Revolutionary fathers fought and died, but to establish the principle that such taxation was unjust. It is the same with this woman's revolution; though every law were as just to woman as to man, the principle that one class may usurp the power to legislate for another is unjust, and all who are now in the struggle from love of principle would still work on until the establishment of the grand and immutable truth, "All governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Governments which have a regard to the common interest are constituted in accordance with strict principles of justice, and are th...erefore true forms; but those which regard only the interest of the rulers are all defective and perverted forms, for they are despotic, whereas a state is a community of freemen.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Mistakes, scandals, and failures no longer signal catastrophe. The crucial thing is that they be made credible, and that the publi...c be made aware of the efforts being expended in that direction. The "marketing" immunity of governments is similar to that of the major brands of washing powder.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Governments like natural bodies have their time of growing perfection and declining, and according to their constitutions, some ho...ld out longer, and some decay sooner than otherse, but all in their beginnings and infancies are subject to so many infirmities and imperfections, that what Solomon said of a monarchy, "Woe to that kingdom whose prince is a child," may be more justly said of a new republic and we may with as much reason say, "Woe be to that people that live under a young government."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I have simplified my politics into an utter detestation of all existing governments; and, as it is the shortest and most agreeable... and summary feeling imaginable, the first moment of an universal republic would convert me into an advocate for single and uncontradicted despotism. The fact is, riches are power, and poverty is slavery all over the earth, and one sort of establishment is no better, nor worse, for a people than another.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Can an author with reason complain that he is cramped and shackled if he is not at liberty to publish blasphemy, bawdry, or sediti...on? all of which are equally prohibited in the freest governments, if they are wise and well-regulated ones.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
In the twentieth century one of the most personal relationships to have developed is that of the person and the state.... It's bec...ome a fact of life that governments have become very intimate with people, most always to their detriment.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
We have feudal governments in a commercial age. It would be but an easy extension of our commercial system, to pay a private emper...or a fee for services, as we pay an architect, an engineer, or a lawyer. If any man has talent for righting wrong, for administering difficult affairs, for counselling poor farmers how to turn their estates to good husbandry, for combining a hundred private enterprises to a general benefit, let him in the county- town, or in Court-street, put up his sign-board, Mr. Smith, Governor, Mr. Johnson, Working king.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »