Americans are so enamored of equality, they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.

Democratic communities have a natural taste for freedom: left to themselves they will seek it, cherish it, and view any deprivation of it with regret. But for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, invincible: they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery.

Experience shows that the most dangerous moment for a bad government is usually just as it's starting on reform.

The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money.

There is a manly and lawful passion for equality which incites men to wish all to be powerful and honored. This passion tends to elevate the humble to the rank of the great; but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level, and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality in freedom.

We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.