Republic Quotes

• Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.

  Joseph Story

  Wise, Fall, Order

  Joseph Story (1834). “The Constitutional Class Book: Being a Brief Exposition of the Constitution of the United States: Designed for the Use of the Higher Classes in Common Schools”, p.154

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• The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems.

  Mahatma Gandhi

  Inspirational, Motivational, Positive

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• I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Country, Money, Hands

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• This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.

  Elmer Davis

  Coward, India, Preserves

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• The Republican form of government is the highest form of government: but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature, a type nowhere at present existing.

  Herbert Spencer

  Nature, Thinking, Government

  'Essays' (1891) vol. 3 'The Americans'

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• I feel that the constitution is workable, it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peacetime and in wartime. Indeed, if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. What we will have to say is that Man was vile.

  B. R. Ambedkar

  Country, Strong, Men

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• When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Evil, Voting, Principles

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• Between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos.

  John Marshall

  Differences, Democracies Have, Order

  John Marshall (1836). “The life of George Washington: commander in chief of the American forces, during the war which established the independence of his country, and first president of the United States”, p.447

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• Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils - no, nor the human race, as I believe - and then only will this our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day.

  Plato

  Kings, Plato, Philosophy

  Plato (2015). “The Republic”, p.206, First Avenue Editions

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• Republicanism is not the phantom of a deluded imagination. On the contrary, laws, under no form of government, are better supported, liberty and property better secured, or happiness more effectually dispensed to mankind.

  George Washington

  Happiness, Government, Law

  George Washington (1855). “Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious”, p.20

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• Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Years, People, Needs

  Letter to the Abbés Chalut and Arnaud, April 17, 1787.

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• Society is a republic. When an individual tries to lift themselves above others, they are dragged down by the mass, either by ridicule or slander.

  Victor Hugo

  Society, Trying, Individual

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• A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

  Niccolo Machiavelli

  Simple, Men, Good Man

  Niccolo Machiavelli (2017). “The Prince”, p.99, Race Point Publishing

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• Build what you want to see in the world.

  Jack Dorsey

  Inspirational, Motivational, Change

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• In a republic this rule ought to be observed: that the majority should not have the predominant power.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Philosophical, Power, Majority

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• A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.

  Edward Abbey

  Inspirational, Country, Freedom

  Edward Abbey (2015). “A Voice Crying in the Wilderness”, p.17, RosettaBooks

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• The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.

  Dwight D. Eisenhower

  Hands, Voting, American Voters

  "Biography/ Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

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• Be the change you want to see.

  Mahatma Gandhi

  Inspirational, Motivational, Change

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• Our republic and its press will rise and fall together.

  Joseph Pulitzer

  Fall, Freedom Of Speech, Together

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• Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it."

  Benjamin Franklin

  Doctors, Philadelphia, Independence

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• What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Law, Sacred, Constitution

  American Daily Advertiser, August 28, 1794.

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• Let new India arise out of peasants' cottage, grasping the plough, out of huts, cobbler and sweeper.

  Swami Vivekananda

  India, Cobblers, Cottages

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• Citizenship consists in the service of the country.

  Jawaharlal Nehru

  Country, India, Citizenship

  Jawaharlal Nehru (1949). “Speeches”

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  Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.

  John Adams

  Suicide, Freedom, Suicidal

  Letter from John Adams to John Taylor, 15 Apr. 1814

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• In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.

  Robert Green Ingersoll

  Work, India, Genius

  Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.725, Library of Alexandria

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