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John C. Calhoun Quotes - Page 2

All Quotes Community Constitution Liberty
Protection and patriotism are reciprocal.

Protection and patriotism are reciprocal.

John C. Calhoun
Political, Politics, Protection
John C. Calhoun “The Works of John C. Calhoun Volume 2”, Jazzybee Verlag

We have had so many years of prosperity, we have passed through so many difficulties and dangers without the loss of liberty - that we begin to think that we hold it by divine right from heaven itself ... It is harder to preserve than to obtain liberty.

John C. Calhoun
Loss, Thinking, Years

A revolution in itself is not a blessing.

John C. Calhoun
Blessing, Revolution
John C. Calhoun “The Works of John C. Calhoun Volume 4”, Jazzybee Verlag

How can those who are invested with the power of government be prevented from the abuse of those powers as the means of aggrandizing themselves? ... Without a strong constitution to counteract the strong tendency of government to disorder and abuse there can be little progress or improvement.

John C. Calhoun
Strong, Mean, Government

To maintain the ascendancy of the Constitution over the lawmaking majority is the great and essential point on which the success of the [American] system must depend; unless that ascendancy can be preserved, the necessary consequence must be that the laws will supersede the Constitution; and, finally, the will of the Executive, by influence of its patronage, will supersede the laws . . .

John C. Calhoun
America, Law, Majority
John C. Calhoun “The Works of John C. Calhoun Volume 2”, Jazzybee Verlag

True consistency, that of the prudent and the wise, is to act in conformity with circumstances, and not to act always the same way under a change of circumstances.

John C. Calhoun
Wise, Consistency, Way
John C. Calhoun “The Works of John C. Calhoun Volume 4”, Jazzybee Verlag

It is federal, because it is the government of States united in a political union, in contradistinction to a government of individuals, that is, by what is usually called, a social compact. To express it more concisely, it is federal and not national because it is the government of a community of States, and not the government of a single State or Nation.

John C. Calhoun
Government, Community, Political
JOHN C. CALHOUN (1854). “A DISQUISITION ON GOVERNMENT AND A DISCOURSE ON THE CONSTITUTIONA ND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES”, p.113

The surrender of life is nothing to sinking down into acknowledgment of inferiority.

John C. Calhoun
Life, Inferiority, Surrender

I never know what South Carolina thinks of a measure. I never consult her. I act to the best of my judgment, and according to my conscience. If she approves, well and good. If she does not, or wishes any one to take my place, I am ready to vacate. We are even.

John C. Calhoun
Thinking, Wish, South Carolina
Attributed to John C. Calhoun in Walter J. Miller "Calhoun as a Lawyer and Statesman", part 2 "The Green Bag" (p. 271), June 1899.

Property is in its nature timid and seeks protection, and nothing is more gratifying to government than to become a protector.

John C. Calhoun
Government, Protection, Property
John C. Calhoun “The Works of John C. Calhoun Volume 2”, Jazzybee Verlag

Democracy, as I understand it, requires me to sacrifice myself for the masses, not to them. Who knows not that if you would save the people, you must often oppose them?

John C. Calhoun
Sacrifice, People, Understanding

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