Precedents deliberately established by wise men are entitled to great weight. They are evidence of truth, but only evidence...But a solitary precedent...which has never been reexamined, cannot be conclusive. Henry Clay More Quotes by Henry Clay More Quotes From Henry Clay Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees. And both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people. Henry Clay trustgovernmentpeople All legislation, all government, all society is founded upon the principle of mutual concession, politeness, comity, courtesy; upon these everything is based...Let him who elevates himself above humanity, above its weaknesses, its infirmities, its wants, its necessities, say, if he pleases, I will never compromise; but let no one who is not above the frailties of our common nature disdain compromises. Henry Clay weaknessgovernmenthumanity We have had good and bad Presidents, and it is a consoling reflection that the American Nation possesses such elements of prosperity that the bad Presidents cannot destroy it, and have been able to do no more than slightly to retard the public's advancement. Henry Clay ablepresidentreflection The arts of power and its minions are the same in all countries and in all ages. It marks its victim; denounces it; and excites the public odium and the public hatred, to conceal its own abuses and encroachments. Henry Clay hatredcountryart Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character. Henry Clay businesscharactermen Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart. Henry Clay gratitudethanksgivingthankful Let him who elevates himself above humanity . . . say, if he pleases, "I will never compromise"; but let no one who is not above the frailties of our common nature disdain compromise. Henry Clay compromisehumanitycommon The measure of the wealth of a nation is indicated by the measure of its protection of its industry; the measure of the poverty of a nation is marked by the degree in which it neglects and abandons the care of its own industry, leaving it exposed to the action of foreign powers. Henry Clay leavingpoliticspolitical An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters. Henry Clay rebellionrevolutionpeople The time will come when winter will ask what you were doing all summer. Henry Clay summerinspirationalwrestling Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must. Henry Clay ifs All legislation is founded upon the principle of mutual concession. Henry Clay mutuallegislationprinciples The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity. Henry Clay united-statesdemocracyamerica I cannot believe that the killing of 2,000 Englishmen at New Orleans qualifies a person for the various difficult and complicated duties of the Presidency. Henry Clay new-orleanscomplicatedbelieve I am not, sir, in favor of cherishing the passion of conquest. I am permitted ... to indulge the hope of seeing, ere long, the new United States, (if you will allow me the expression,) embracing not only the old. Henry Clay passionexpressionlong Statistics are no substitute for judgment. Henry Clay humorousteachingfunny The great advantage of our system of government over all others, is, that we have a written constitution, defining its limits, and prescribing its authorities; and that, however, for a time, faction may convulse the nation, and passion and party prejudice sway its functionaries, the season of reflection will recur, when calmly retracing their deeds, all aberrations from fundamental principle will be corrected. Henry Clay passionpartyreflection The imposition of taxes has its limits. There is a maximum which cannot be transcended. Suppose the citizen to be taxed by the general government to the utmost extent of his ability, or a thing as much as it can possibly bear, and the state imposes a tax at the same time, which authority is to take it? Henry Clay citizensgovernmentlimits I have heard something said about allegiance to the South. I know no South, no North, no East, no West, to which I owe any allegiance. Henry Clay patriotismeastwest Honor and good faith and justice are equally due from this country toward the weak as toward the strong. Henry Clay strongjusticecountry
