"The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries." ― John Adams Topic(s): Government Tags: essence More From John Adams "My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived." "A government of laws, and not of men." "Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power." More In Government "I’d rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University."― William F. Buckley, Jr. "Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning by another branch of government."― Richard M. Nixon "The growth of modern constitutional government compels for its successful practice the exercise of reason and considerate judgment by the individual citizens who constitute the electorate."― Elihu Root