Stephen MacLean

“Conspicuous and vital arrangements of our social structure have arisen not by the devising of any one, but through the individual efforts of citizens . . . we may be tolerably certain that the less important arrangements have similarly arisen.” ~ Herbert Spencer.

“Through the combination thus spontaneously evolved, every citizen is supplied with daily necessaries; while he yields some product or aid to others.” ~ Herbert Spencer.

“By changes as insensible as those through which a seed passes into a tree, society has become the complex body of mutually-dependent workers we now see.” ~ Herbert Spencer.

“So pray do become true blue at once. It is a good standing colour, and bears washing.” ~ Sir John Alexander Macdonald.

“While each citizen has been pursuing his individual welfare, and none taking thought about division of labour, or conscious of the need of it, division of labour has yet been ever becoming more complete.” ~ Herbert Spencer.

“I glory in the name of Briton!” ~ George III. 🇬🇧

“Our industrial organisation, from its main outlines down to its minutest details, has become what it is, not simply without legislative guidance, but, to a considerable extent, in spite of legislative hindrances.” ~ Herbert Spencer.

“You need but to look at the changes going on around, or observe social organisation in its leading traits, to see that these are neither supernatural, nor are determined by the wills of individual men, as by implication the older historians teach.” ~ Herbert Spencer.

“The function of the State, it is generally assumed, is to bring about the Good Society . . . and the Good Society is whatever the political scientist has in mind.” ~ Frank Chodorov.

“The great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department, the necessary constitutional means . . . to resist encroachments of the others.” ~ James Madison, “Federalist #51”

“The defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government, as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places.” ~ James Madison, “Federalist #51”

“It is the reason of the public alone, that ought to control and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controled and regulated by the government.” ~ James Madison, “Federalist #49”

“The danger of disturbing public tranquility, by interesting too strongly the public passions, is a still more serious objection against a frequent reference of constitutional questions to the decision of the whole society.” ~ James Madison, “Federalist #49”

“In every other nation, the most rational government will not find it a superfluous advantage to have the prejudices of the community on its side.” ~ James Madison, “Federalist #49”

“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they.” ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

“The reason of man, like man himself, is timid and cautious when left alone; and acquires firmness and confidence, in proportion to the number with which it is associated.” ~ James Madison, “Federalist #49”

“But there appear to be insuperable objections against the proposed recurrence to the people, as a provision in all cases for keeping the several departments of power within their constitutional limits.” ~ James Madison, “Federalist #49”