Affair Quote by David Hume

“Our contemporaries are constantly excited by two conflicting passions: they want to be led, and they wish to remain free. As they cannot destroy…

— Alexis de Tocqueville

“The masses often let themselves down and even those at the forefront who are hoisting the flag of the cause that is intended to…

— Janvier Chouteu-Chando

Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. We have all known individuals whose magnanimity was not…

— Arthur Helps

Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent; selected from the rest of mankind their minds are…

— Thomas Paine

It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men.

— Thucydides

Rulers who destroy men's freedom commonly begin by trying to retain its forms. ... They cherish the illusion that they can combine the prerogatives…

— Alexis de Tocqueville

“The philosophers say that the passions are too lively, too fiery; in truth they are weak and languid. All around one sees the mass…

— Charles Fourier

One of the only coherent philosophical positions is thus revolt. It is a constant confrontation between man and his own obscurity.

— Albert Camus

By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and…

— James Madison

Men without hope, resigned to despair and oppression, do not make revolutions. It is when expectation replaces submission, when despair is touched with the…

— Robert Kennedy

“Our contemporaries are constantly wracked by two warring passions: they feel the need to be led and the desire to remain free. Unable to…

— Alexis de Tocqueville

“In a nation distracted by faction, there are, no doubt, always a few, though commonly but a very few, who preserve their judgment untainted…

— Adam Smith