Fisher Ames Quotes About Democracy

• All such men are, or ought to be, agreed, that simple governments are despotisms; and of all despotisms, a democracy, though the least durable, is the most violent.

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  Fisher Ames

  Simple   Men   Democracy  

  Fisher Ames (1835). “The influences of democracy on liberty, property, and the happiness of society, considered”, p.45

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• The people as a body cannot deliberate. Nevertheless, they will feel an irresistible impulse to act, and their resolutions will be dictated to them by their demagogues... and the violent men, who are the most forward to gratify those passions, will be their favorites. What is called the government of the people is in fact too often the arbitrary power of such men. Here, then, we have the faithful portrait of democracy.

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  Fisher Ames

  Passion   Men   People  

  Fisher Ames, John Thornton Kirkland (1854). “Works of Fisher Ames: With a selection from his speeches and correspondence”, p.393, Burt Franklin

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• A government by the passions of the multitude, or, no less correctly, according to the vices, and ambitions of their leaders is a democracy.

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  Fisher Ames

  Passion   Ambition   Government  

  Fisher Ames (1809). “Works of Fisher Ames”, p.429

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• Liberty has never lasted long in a democracy, nor has it ever ended in anything better than despotism.

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  Fisher Ames

  Long   Historical   Democracy  

  4849

• The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.

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  Fisher Ames

  Believe   Ignorant   Democracy  

  Fisher Ames (1809). “Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends”, p.384

  3948

• A democracy is a volcano which conceals the fiery materials of its own destruction. These will produce an eruption and carry desolation in their way.

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  Fisher Ames

  Volcanoes   Democracy   Way  

  Fisher Ames (1809). “Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends”, p.24

  2930

• Democracy, in its best state, is but the politics of Bedlam; while kept chained, its thoughts are frantic, but when it breaks loose, it kills the keeper, fires the building, and perishes.

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  Fisher Ames

  Fire   Historical   Democracy  

  2125

• [O]ur sages in the great [constitutional] convention... intended our government should be a republic which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism. The rigours of a despotism often... oppress only a few, but it is the very essence and nature of a democracy, for a faction claiming to oppress a minority, and that minority the chief owners of the property and truest lovers of their country.

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  Fisher Ames

  Country   Government   Essence  

  4734

• [the framers of the Constitution] intended our government should be a republic, which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism.

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  Fisher Ames

  Government   Historical   Democracy  

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