INSIGHT

“No matter how worthwhile an end may be, if there is no constitutional authority to pursue it, then the federal government must step aside and leave the matter to the states or to private parties. The president and Congress can proceed only from constitutional authority, not from good intentions alone. If Congress thinks it necessary to expand its powers, the Framers crafted an amendment process for that purpose. But too often, rather than follow that process, Congress has disregarded the limits set by the Constitution and gutted our frontline defense against overweening federal government.” —Robert Levy

INSIGHT

“Rust destroys iron, moths destroy clothes, the worm eats away the wood; but greatest of all evils is envy, impious habitant of corrupt souls, which ever was, is, and shall be a consuming disease.”
—Menander

“Let no man turn aside, ever so slightly, from the broad path of honor, on the plausible pretence that he is justified by the goodness of his end. All good ends can be worked out by good means.”
—Charles Dickens

“Power doesn’t corrupt people, people corrupt power.” —William Gaddis

“Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again.”
—Grover Cleveland

“I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.”
—Arthur Godfrey