Factions Quote by George Washington
““All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests.””
About This Quote
Source Letter: James Madison, 1790
Political factions manipulate governance, substituting party will for the nation's delegated will, leading to fragmented and ineffective administration.
In simple terms: Factions replace national will with party interests, causing dysfunction.
Key Takeaway
Guard against factional dominance in politics.
Themes
politics
faction
governance
authority
public interest
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislative bodies
- elections
- policy making
- civic engagement
Key Concepts
republicanism
democratic theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens ensure collective will prevails?
- What mechanisms reduce factional power?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate the role of compromise in democracy.
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