Author: James Fenimore Cooper

Quotes

No civilized society can long exist, with an active power in its bosom that is stronger than the law.

No civilized society can long exist, with an active power in its bosom that is stronger than the law.

- James Fenimore Cooper

It is the besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which the masses of men exhibit their tyranny.

It is the besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which the masses of men exhibit their tyranny.

- James Fenimore Cooper

All sacrifices of common sense, and all recourse to plausible political combinations, whether of individuals or of men, are uniformly made at the expense of the majority.

All sacrifices of common sense, and all recourse to plausible political combinations, whether of individuals or of men, are uniformly made at the expense of the majority.

- James Fenimore Cooper

It is a governing principle of nature, that the agency which can produce most good, when perverted from its proper aim, is most productive of evil.

It is a governing principle of nature, that the agency which can produce most good, when perverted from its proper aim, is most productive of evil.

- James Fenimore Cooper

Candor is a proof of both a just frame of mind, and of a good tone of breeding. It is a quality that belongs equally to the honest man and to the gentleman.

Candor is a proof of both a just frame of mind, and of a good tone of breeding. It is a quality that belongs equally to the honest man and to the gentleman.

- James Fenimore Cooper

The disposition of all power is to abuses, nor does it at all mend the matter that its possessors are a majority.

The disposition of all power is to abuses, nor does it at all mend the matter that its possessors are a majority.

- James Fenimore Cooper

Whenever the government of the United States shall break up, it will probably be in consequence of a false direction having been given to public opinion.

Whenever the government of the United States shall break up, it will probably be in consequence of a false direction having been given to public opinion.

- James Fenimore Cooper

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