Quote#Politics & Power
There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that,…
Quote byWilliam Jennings Bryan · 1860–1925
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Cross of Gold Speech (1896).
English (original)
There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests up on them.
— William Jennings Bryan
More from William Jennings Bryan
Our definition of patriotism is often too narrow. Shall the lover of his country measure his loyalty only by his service as a soldier?
a good government doubles every joy and a bad government multiplies every sorrow.
Success is brought by continued labor and continued watchfulness. We must struggle on, not for one moment hesitate, nor take one backward step.
No government can long endure unless its citizens are willing to make some sacrifice for its existence.
There is no more menacing feature in these modern times than the disinclination of what are called the better classes to assume the burdens of citizenship.
While human government exists the tendency to abuse power will remain.