Quotes About Authority

Washington had a more relaxed style with girls and used to say ruefully that he could govern men but not boys.

We consider situation critical, politicians appear to have absolute control.

Clearly, the U.S. government condoned something that, in modern phraseology, could be termed industrial espionage. Building upon this precedent, Hamilton put the full authority of the Treasury behind the piracy of British trade secrets.

He was a fine boss if workers abided by his rules, but if they did something foolish, like show interest in a union, they promptly forfeited his sympathy.

There is no road to despotism more sure or more to be dreaded than that which begins at anarchy.

If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

To ensure that he won, he submitted to games only where he could dictate the rules.

Rockefeller would become their official umpire and try to govern their pool in a fair, disinterested fashion.

Give all power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all power to the few, they will oppress the many.

As always, Hamilton cited constitutional grounds for his program, invoking the clause that gave Congress authority to "provide for the common defence and general welfare."59 Owing in part to Hamilton's generous construction of this clause, it was to acquire enormous significance, allowing the government to enact programs to advance social welfare.

In the first essay, Hamilton dealt with the objection that only Congress could issue a neutrality proclamation, since it alone had the power to declare war. Hamilton pointed out that if "the legislature have a right to make war, on the one hand, it is, on the other, the duty of the executive to preserve peace till war is declared."50 Once again, Hamilton broadened the authority of the executive branch in diplomacy, especially during emergencies.

The 1907 panic would be the last time that bankers loomed so much larger than regulators in a crisis.

In their mutual desire for a professional army and a strong central authority that would mitigate local rivalries, the two men felt the first stirrings of an impulse that would someday culminate in the Constitution and the Federalist party. Like Washington, Hamilton was scandalized by the dissension and cowardice, the backstabbing and avarice, of the politicians in Philadelphia while soldiers were dying in the field.

Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does, as it is to its victims; the second it crushes, the first it intoxicates. Those who use it and those who endure it are turned to stone… a soul which has entered the province of force will not escape this except by a miracle.

God is your Creator, so have some creaturely respect.

As creatures, you and I are responsible to obey the Creator.

Tyndale once told a Catholic antagonist: "I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, before many years I will make sure that a boy who drives the plough knows more of the Scriptures than you do.

Loyalty to the nation ALL THE TIME. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.

Government is not a solution to our problem government is the problem.

The federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government.

We are a nation that has a government--not the other way around.

People don't start wars, governments do.

The best minds are not in government.

Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty