All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.

Thomas Jefferson

First Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson

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Topic

Majority rule Minority rights Democracy Political theory

Speaker

Thomas Jefferson

Source

First Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1801 1800s 19th century

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1801, Senate Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Thomas Jefferson

The boisterous sea of liberty indeed is never without a wave.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Freedom as disruptive force Nature of freedom Freedom

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Genre
Political writing
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1820 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Marquis de Lafayette. 26 Dec. 1820.

Another quote from the 1800s

O, what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!

Sir Walter Scott

Read Marmion at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Consequences of lying Unintended consequences Lying

Author

Sir Walter Scott
Source
Marmion
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Proverbs, aphorisms and adages
Language
English
Time
1808 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Scott, Walter, Sir. Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co./London: William Miller and John Murray, 1808, canto 6, st. 17.

Another quote about Political theory

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 15

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Read Federalist No. 15 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Political theory Government Politics Human nature

Author

Alexander Hamilton
Source
Federalist 15 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1787 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 15: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union." Independent Journal, 1 Dec. 1787.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 15: Its great defect: can only legislate for states.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Another quote from the following genre Political speech

If by the mere force of numbers a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution—certainly would if such a right were a vital one.

Abraham Lincoln

First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

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More information about this quote
Topic
Minority rights American politics
Speaker
Abraham Lincoln
Source
First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln Presidential inaugural address
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1861 1860s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1861, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugral Address, March 4, 1861." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 2018.