33 Quotes by Fisher Ames

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

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.

No one ever became, or can become truly eloquent without being a reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and sublimity of its language.

The gentleman puts me in mind of an old hen which persists in setting after her eggs are taken away.

Why then, if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book ?

That can never be reasoned down which was not reasoned up.

Time never fails to bring every exalted reputation to a strict scrutiny.

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.

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