Quotes from William Henry Harrison

There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.

We admit of no government by divine right… the only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.

All the measures of the Government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

A decent and manly examination of the acts of government should be not only tolerated, but encouraged.

Far different is the power of our sovereignty. It can interfere with no one's faith, prescribe forms of worship for no one's observance, inflict no punishment but after well-ascertained guilt, the result of investigation under rules prescribed by the Constitution itself.

The broad foundation upon which our Constitution rests being the people—a breath of theirs having made, as a breath can unmake, change, or modify it—it can be assigned to none of the great divisions of government but to that of democracy.

The plea of necessity, that eternal argument of all conspirators.

Understanding of men can be warped and their affections changed by operations upon their passions and prejudices.

There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.

The virtue of its Citizens is the only Support of a Republican government

The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.

Conscience, that vicegerent of God in the human heart, whose "still small voice" the loudest revelry cannot drown.

I believe that all the measures of the Government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

The prudent capitalist will never adventure his capital . . . if there exists a state of uncertainty as to whether the Government will repeal tomorrow what it has enacted today.

A decent and manly examination of the acts of government should not only be tolerated, but encouraged.

The plea of necessity, that eternal argument of all conspirators.

Sound morals, religious liberty, and a just sense of religious responsibility are essentially connected with all true and lasting happiness.

I believe and I say it is true Democratic feeling, that all the measures of the Government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

All the measures of the Government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Sir, I wish to understand the true principles of the Government. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more.

The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.

All the lessons of history and experience must be lost upon us if we are content to trust alone to the peculiar advantages we happen to possess.

The chains of military despotism, once fastened upon a nation, ages might pass away before they could be shaken off.