Edmund Burke: “We were unworthy to be let into the secret of our own conduct.”

By adhering in this manner and on those principles to our forefathers, we are guided, not by the superstition of antiquarians, but by the spirit of philosophic analogy.

But supposing they had ranked as they ought to do, and as with us they do actually, the sides of sick-beds are not the academies for forming statesmen and legislators.

Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.

This is the spirit of our Constitution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions.