John Pym

“The best form of government is that which doth actuate and dispose every part and member of a state to the common good.”

“The high court of Parliament is the great eye of the kingdom, to find out offences and punish them.”

“He that takes away the defense of the law from the subject, cuts himself off from the benefit of it.”

“A Parliament is that to the commonwealth, which the soul is to the body.”

“Privileges of Parliament were not given for the ornament of the members, but for the service of the King and Commonwealth.”

“The greatest liberty of the kingdom is religion.”

“A word spoken in season is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

“To have our religion changed is a greater mischief than to have our laws taken from us.”

“We must not only make our grievances known, but the remedies.”

“The liberties of this House are the fortresses of the kingdom.”

“It is not the purpose of the House of Commons to govern, but to call those to account who do govern.”

“The law is that which puts a difference betwixt good and evil, betwixt just and unjust. If you take away the law, all things will fall into a confusion.”