Checks Quote by William O. Douglas
“Those in power need checks and restraints lest they come to identify the common good for their own tastes and desires, and their continuation in office as essential to the preservation of the nation.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Address on Governance, 1965
Power must be limited by checks to prevent self‑serving definitions of the common good.
In simple terms: Limits on power stop leaders from redefining public interest for themselves.
Key Takeaway
Support strong institutional checks.
Themes
governance
ethics
power
checks and balances
public interest
Mood
cautious
reflective
critical
Type
political
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- legislative oversight
- judicial review
- citizen watchdog groups
- transparency initiatives
Key Concepts
constitutional law
political theory
accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms best prevent power abuse?
- How can citizens enforce accountability?
A Different Perspective
Balancing oversight with effective governance can be complex.
![“When the fountains of government [borrowing] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the state was forced to check the extension of bureaucracy and to put a stop to public works, then and then only did the Italians realize what it…” quote by John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/908/john-t-flynn-18493_abundance_when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowi_2663.jpg)
