America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief; it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered.
I think all of our human Experience shows that no one with absolute power can be trusted to give it up even in part
Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.
In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action.
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or ill, it teaches the whole people by its example.
Nearly all legislation involves a weighing of public needs as against private desires; and likewise a weighing of relative social values.