Edmund Burke: “Faithful watchmen we ought to be over the rights and privileges of the people.”

Let us imitate their caution, if we wish to deserve their fortune or to retain their bequests.

But when the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service.

They will become flatterers instead of legislators,--the instruments, not the guides of the people.

I would not exclude alteration neither; but even when I changed, it should be to preserve.