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Top 20 John C. Calhoun Quotes (2025 Update)

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Learn from your mistakes and build on your successes.”

1. “Learn from your mistakes and build on your successes.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “The defence of human liberty against the aggressions of despotic power have been always the most efficient in States where domestic slavery was to prevail.”

2. “The defence of human liberty against the aggressions of despotic power have been always the most efficient in States where domestic slavery was to prevail.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “We are not a nation, but a union, a confederacy of equal and sovereign states.”

3. “We are not a nation, but a union, a confederacy of equal and sovereign states.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “In looking back, I see nothing to regret and little to correct.”

4. “In looking back, I see nothing to regret and little to correct.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “It is harder to preserve than to obtain liberty.”

5. “It is harder to preserve than to obtain liberty.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Protection and patriotism are reciprocal.”

6. “Protection and patriotism are reciprocal.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “I never use the word nation in speaking of the United States. I always use the word Union or Confederacy. We are not a nation but a union, a confederacy of equal and sovereign States.”

7. “I never use the word nation in speaking of the United States. I always use the word Union or Confederacy. We are not a nation but a union, a confederacy of equal and sovereign States.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party.”

8. “The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Irresponsible power is inconsistent with liberty, and must corrupt those who exercise it.”

9. “Irresponsible power is inconsistent with liberty, and must corrupt those who exercise it.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “True consistency, that of the prudent and the wise, is to act in conformity with circumstances, and not to act always the same way under a change of circumstances.”

10. “True consistency, that of the prudent and the wise, is to act in conformity with circumstances, and not to act always the same way under a change of circumstances.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Government has no right to control individual liberty beyond what is necessary to the safety and well-being of society. Such is the boundary which separates the power of the government and the liberty of the citizen or subject in the political state.”

11. “Government has no right to control individual liberty beyond what is necessary to the safety and well-being of society. Such is the boundary which separates the power of the government and the liberty of the citizen or subject in the political state.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Democracy, as I understand it, requires me to sacrifice myself for the masses, not to them. Who knows not that if you would save the people, you must often oppose them?”

12. “Democracy, as I understand it, requires me to sacrifice myself for the masses, not to them. Who knows not that if you would save the people, you must often oppose them?”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “The will of a majority is the will of a rabble. Progressive democracy is incompatable with liberty.”

13. “The will of a majority is the will of a rabble. Progressive democracy is incompatable with liberty.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Beware the wrath of a patient adversary.”

14. “Beware the wrath of a patient adversary.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “The surrender of life is nothing to sinking down into acknowledgment of inferiority.”

15. “The surrender of life is nothing to sinking down into acknowledgment of inferiority.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “There never has yet existed a wealthy and civilized society in which one portion of the community did not, in point of fact, live on the labor of the other.”

16. “There never has yet existed a wealthy and civilized society in which one portion of the community did not, in point of fact, live on the labor of the other.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “A power has risen up in the government greater than the people themselves, consisting of many and various powerful interests, combined in one mass, and held together by the cohesive power of the vast surplus in banks.”

17. “A power has risen up in the government greater than the people themselves, consisting of many and various powerful interests, combined in one mass, and held together by the cohesive power of the vast surplus in banks.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “I never know what South Carolina thinks of a measure. I never consult her. I act to the best of my judgment, and according to my conscience. If she approves, well and good. If she does not, or wishes any one to take my place, I am ready to vacate. We are even.”

18. “I never know what South Carolina thinks of a measure. I never consult her. I act to the best of my judgment, and according to my conscience. If she approves, well and good. If she does not, or wishes any one to take my place, I am ready to vacate. We are even.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “The object of a Constitution is to restrain the Government, as that of laws is to restrain individuals.”

19. “The object of a Constitution is to restrain the Government, as that of laws is to restrain individuals.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “A revolution in itself is not a blessing.”

20. “A revolution in itself is not a blessing.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Government has within it a tendency to abuse its powers.”

21. “Government has within it a tendency to abuse its powers.”

— John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun Quote: “Property is in its nature timid and seeks protection, and nothing is more gratifying to government than to become a protector.”

22. “Property is in its nature timid and seeks protection, and nothing is more gratifying to government than to become a protector.”

— John C. Calhoun

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