Federalist 10 quotes

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. – Federalist 10

The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. – Federalist 10

A pure democracy can admit no cure for the mischief’s of faction. – Federalist 10

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man. – Federalist 10

The subject speaks its own importance; comprehending in its consequences nothing less than the existence of the union, the safety and welfare of the parts of which it is composed… – Federalist 10

The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. – Federalist 10

By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or majority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. – Federalist 10

No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. – Federalist 10

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly ceases to exist. – Federalist 10

Federalist 10 quotes part 2

But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. – Federalist 10

Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. – Federalist 10

By enlarging too much the number of electors, you render the representatives too little acquainted with all their local circumstances and lesser interests; as by reducing it too much, you render him unduly attached to these, and too little fit to comprehend and pursue great and national objects. – Federalist 10

So strong is this propensity of mankind, to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. – Federalist 10

The second expedient is as impracticable as the first would be unwise. – Federalist 10

The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished. – Federalist 10

By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. – Federalist 10

The most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. – Federalist 10

Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority. – Federalist 10

As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. – Federalist 10

Faction and oppression have too long triumphed over reason and humanity. – Federalist 10

The wisdom of man, with the aid of a free government, cannot be too highly valued, nor too anxiously sought. – Federalist 10

The utility of an institution must be a test of its constitutionality. – Federalist 10

It is in vain to say that enlightened statesmen will be able to adjust these clashing interests, and render them all subservient to the public good. Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm. – Federalist 10

A pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit no cure for the mischiefs of faction. – Federalist 10

If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. – Federalist 10

In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person; in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. – Federalist 10

Extend the sphere and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests. – Federalist 10

By opening a wider field for competition, you incite new leaders with ambitions and talents to emerge. – Federalist 10

By making it difficult for a majority to form and maintain itself, you prevent the tyranny of the majority. – Federalist 10

A well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country. – Federalist 10

The peace of the whole ought not to be left at the disposal of a part. – Federalist 10

The public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and measures are too often decided by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority. – Federalist 10

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. – Federalist 10

The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest and secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended. – Federalist 10

A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking. – Federalist 10

The effect of the first difference is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. – Federalist 10

It is in vain to say that enlightened statesmen will be able to adjust these clashing interests and render them all subservient to the public good. – Federalist 10

The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interest. – Federalist 10

The facility and excess of political parties in a country are the precursors of despotism. – Federalist 10

In a republic, the people elect representatives and place them in charge of the government. – Federalist 10

A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. – Federalist 10

If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. – Federalist 10

Liberty, in short, is the reward of the virtuous. – Federalist 10

Nothing is more natural to men who feel their rights than to dispute about the amount of power necessitated by such rights. – Federalist 10

If a particular faction or interest advances its views at the expense of the others, there is always a danger that this interest will encroach on the rights of the others. – Federalist 10