James F. Cooper
James F. Cooper
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth15 September 1789
CountryUnited States of America
american-novelist exhibit form masses men public substitute usual vice
It is the besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which the masses of men exhibit their tyranny.
evil
There are evils worse than death,
appreciated exception particular
Systems are to be appreciated by their general effects, and not by particular exceptions.
sunshine past roots
The listeners got some such insights into their past lives, as one gets into the darker parts of the woods, when a stray gleam of sunshine finds its way down to the roots of the trees.
motivational friendship spring
Friendship that flows from the heart cannot be frozen by adversity, as the water that flows from the spring cannogt congeal in winter.
principles visionaries way
The American doctrinaire is the converse of the American demagogue, and, in this way, is scarcely less injurious to the public. The first deals in poetry, the last in cant. He is as much a visionary on one side, as the extreme theoretical democrat is a visionary on the other.
tyrants newspapers tyranny
If the newspapers are useful in overthrowing tyrants, it is only to establish a tyranny of their own.
humans
We are all human, and all do wrong.
fancy woe apathy
Apathy is the great requisite for the station; for woe betide the wretch who fancies any modicum of zeal.
warrior blood sight
The sight of a coward's blood can never make a warrior tremble.
aim citizen freedom happiness individuality leaving left means order political pursue render rights truly
Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order and the rights of others, the institutions render him truly a freeman. He is left to pursue his means of happiness in his own manner.
advantage character elevation general people principal
The principal advantage of a democracy, is a general elevation in the character of the people