Thomas Paine: “It must be something capable of reaching the whole soul of man and arming it with perpetual energy.”

The American constitutions were to liberty what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax.

The Aristocracy had hitherto opposed the despotism of the Court, and affected the language of patriotism; but it opposed it as its rival (as the English Barons opposed King John) and it now opposed the nation from the same motives.

In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.

To account for this sudden transition, it is proper to observe that there are two distinct species of popularity; the one excited by merit, and the other by resentment.