Fisher Ames Quotes About Democracy

Quotes about: Democracy

• The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.

  Fisher Ames

  Believe, Ignorant, Democracy

  Fisher Ames (1809). “Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends”, p.384

• The people as a body cannot deliberate. Nevertheless, they will feel an irresistible impulse to act, and their resolutions will be dictated to them by their demagogues... and the violent men, who are the most forward to gratify those passions, will be their favorites. What is called the government of the people is in fact too often the arbitrary power of such men. Here, then, we have the faithful portrait of democracy.

  Fisher Ames

  Passion, Men, People

  Fisher Ames, John Thornton Kirkland (1854). “Works of Fisher Ames: With a selection from his speeches and correspondence”, p.393, Burt Franklin

• A democracy is a volcano which conceals the fiery materials of its own destruction. These will produce an eruption and carry desolation in their way.

  Fisher Ames

  Volcanoes, Democracy, Way

  Fisher Ames (1809). “Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends”, p.24

• Liberty has never lasted long in a democracy, nor has it ever ended in anything better than despotism.

  Fisher Ames

  Long, Historical, Democracy

• A government by the passions of the multitude, or, no less correctly, according to the vices, and ambitions of their leaders is a democracy.

  Fisher Ames

  Passion, Ambition, Government

  Fisher Ames (1809). “Works of Fisher Ames”, p.429

• [O]ur sages in the great [constitutional] convention... intended our government should be a republic which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism. The rigours of a despotism often... oppress only a few, but it is the very essence and nature of a democracy, for a faction claiming to oppress a minority, and that minority the chief owners of the property and truest lovers of their country.

  Fisher Ames

  Country, Government, Essence

• All such men are, or ought to be, agreed, that simple governments are despotisms; and of all despotisms, a democracy, though the least durable, is the most violent.

  Fisher Ames

  Simple, Men, Democracy

  Fisher Ames (1835). “The influences of democracy on liberty, property, and the happiness of society, considered”, p.45

• [the framers of the Constitution] intended our government should be a republic, which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism.

  Fisher Ames

  Government, Historical, Democracy

• Democracy, in its best state, is but the politics of Bedlam; while kept chained, its thoughts are frantic, but when it breaks loose, it kills the keeper, fires the building, and perishes.

  Fisher Ames

  Fire, Historical, Democracy

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