Question by Troll2009: Please, I need good historical quotes warning the people about the potential corruption/tyranny of government?
Someone already sent me these three quotes from Jefferson

“I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive”.-Thomas Jefferson

“Most bad government has grown out of too much government”.-Thomas Jefferson

“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first”.-Thomas Jefferson

Anything more quotes like this with a source would be greatly appreciated, I would like to memorize these, thanks

Best answer:

Answer by chickadee34
“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 (American 2nd US President (1797-1801), 1735-1826)

“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.” John Adams

“No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can
any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is
preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant,
and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own
weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.”
Samuel Adams

How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!
Samuel Adams

“I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” Thomas Jefferson

“Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.” Thomas Jefferson

“If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” Thomas Jefferson

“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” James Madison

“Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today” Mahatma Gandhi

“One must beware of ministers who can do nothing without money, and those who want to do everything with money.” Indira Gandhi

“One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny.” Bertrand Russell
“One should respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny.” Bertrand Russell

“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.” Charles de Montesquieu

“Whenever is found what is called a paternal government, there is found state education. It has been discovered that the best way to ensure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in the nursery” Benjamin Disraeli

“Monarchy degenerates into tyranny, aristocracy into oligarchy, and democracy into savage violence and chaos.” Polybius (Greek statesman and historian, 200-118bc)

“The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants, and it provides the further advantage of giving the servants of tyranny a good conscience.” Albert Camus

“Anarchy is the sure consequence of tyranny; or no power that is not limited by laws can ever be protected by them.” John Milton

Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it; and this I know, my lords, that where laws end, tyranny begins.” William Pitt the younger (British PrimeMinister (1783-1801, 1804-06) during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. 1759-1806)

“The tyranny of the multitude is a multiplied tyranny.” Edmund Burke (British Statesman and Philosopher, 1729-1797)

“Tyrants are seldom free; the cares and the instruments of their tyranny enslave them.” George Santayana (Spanish born American Philosopher, Poet and Humanist who made important contributions to aesthetics, speculative philosophy and literary criticism. 1863-1952)

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!