Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2012-05-10 May 10, 2012We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove. We have two opinions: one private, which we are afraid to express; and another one - the one we use - which we force ourselves to wear to please Mrs. Grundy, until habit makes us comfortable in it, and the custom of defending it presently makes us love it, adore it, and forget how pitifully we came by it. Look at it in politics.~ Mark TwainDemocracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear.~ Alan CorenkIf a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.~ Anatole France May 9, 2012The media I've had a lot to do with is lazy. We fed them and they ate it every day.~ Michael DeaverThe mission of the Gestapo expanded steadily as, from 1933 onward, “political criminality” was given a much broader definition than ever before and most forms of dissent and criticism were gradually criminalized. The result was that more “laws” or lawlike measures were put on the books than ever.~ Shelia FitzpatrickThe threat of people acting in their own enlightened and rational self-interest strikes bureaucrats, politicians and social workers as ominous and dangerous.~ W. G. Hill May 8, 2012A reasonable action on the part of the majority is very rare, while the evidence of mob stupidity and brutality is overwhelming. The majority in power make laws for their own financial benefit, disregarding the interests of the minority, and when the weak minority, by adding to its numbers, becomes powerful, it, in turn, does the same thing; thus, by appealing to power to settle their conflicting interests, the conflict would go on forever. ~ Charles T. SpradingIt is a general maxim that all governments find a use for as much money as they can raise. Indeed, they have commonly demands for more...I take this as a settled truth, that they will all spend as much as their revenue; that is, will live up to their income.~ James SmithA little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them.~ P. J. O'Rourke May 7, 2012The plea of necessity, that eternal argument of all conspirators.~ William Henry HarrisonThere's nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe it.~ William JamesEvery reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess, that itself will need reforming.~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge May 4, 2012The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is in fact, and must be, regarded by the judges as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought of course to be preferred; or in other words, the constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents.~ Alexander HamiltonAs long as people will accept crap, it will be financially profitable to dispense it.~ Dick CavettParticularly when the war power is invoked to do things to the liberties of people, or to their property or economy that only indirectly affect conduct of the war and do not relate to the engagement of the war itself, the constitutional basis should be scrutinized with care. ... I would not be willing to hold that war powers may be indefinitely prolonged merely by keeping legally alive a state of war that had in fact ended. I cannot accept the argument that war powers last as long as the effects and consequences of war for if so they are permanent -- as permanent as the war debts.~ Justice Robert H. Jackson Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print