Mercy Otis Warren

“The love of domination and an uncontrolled lust of arbitrary power have prevailed among all nations and perhaps in the hearts of all men.”

“The rights of the individual should be the primary object of all governments.”

“The origin of all power is in the people, and they have an incontestable right to check the creatures of their own creation.”

“Mankind may amuse themselves with theoretic systems of liberty... but we can only discern its true value by the practical and wretched effects of slavery.”

“Resist the first approaches of tyranny.”

“It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which they have bled.”

“Every domestic enjoyment depends on the unimpaired possession of civil and religious liberty.”

“No compact of government can be binding on the people who have not themselves, or by their immediate delegates, given their free consent.”

“An over-fondness for wealth, and a desire of false grandeur, are qualities that are seldom compatible with true liberty.”

“The study of the human character opens at once a beautiful and a deformed picture of the soul.”

“The bulk of mankind have indeed, in all countries in their turn, been made the dupes of a few artful men.”

“Let us not be so careless of our future happiness as to need a common enemy to unite us.”

“But the nature of human passions is such, that when licensed by authority, they become bold, daring, and mischievous.”

“I have my fears. Yet, possessing virtue, we may succeed.”

“A republican government is little better than a government of devils.”