"Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God service, when it is violating all His laws. Our passions, ambition, avarice, love, resentment, etc., possess so much metaphysical subtlety, and so much overpowering eloquence, that they insinuate themselves into the understanding and the conscience, and convert both to their party; and I may be deceived as much as any of them, when I say, that Power must never be trusted without a check."
In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, February 2, 1816.
(Portrait Of John Adams, C.1793 Oil On Canvas Photograph by John Trumbull)
No comments:
Post a Comment