1787

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare; and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Constitution of the United States

1787

★ 8.9

Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.

James Madison

Federalist 10 · 1787

★ 7.5

History painting · Neoclassicism

The Death of Socrates

Jacques Louis David

1787 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

Socrates reaches for the hemlock without looking at it, still arguing with his other hand while his students fall apart around him.

★ 7.4

Letter

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

Thomas Jefferson

1787

★ 7.1

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

Federalist 15 · 1787

★ 7.1

It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.

Federalist 1 · 1787

★ 7.0

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.

James Madison

Federalist 10 · 1787

★ 7.0

The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.

Federalist 22 · 1787

★ 7.0

Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.

Life teaches us to be less harsh with ourselves and with others.

Federalist 1 · 1787

★ 7.0

Play

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Iphigenia in Tauris · 1787

★ 6.3

Speech

A republic, if you can keep it.

Benjamin Franklin

1787

★ 5.5

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

Thomas Jefferson

Notes on the State of Virginia · 1787

★ 5.5

The vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty.

Federalist 1 · 1787

★ 3.9

Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to be conclusive and sacred.

James Madison

Federalist 20 · 1787

★ 3.8

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States, which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the Supreme Law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

Constitution of the United States

1787

★ 3.8

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other persons.

Constitution of the United States

1787

★ 3.8

We, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society. This circumstance, if duly attended to, would furnish a lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy.

Federalist 1 · 1787

★ 3.7

For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.