January 10th, 2013 at 10:18AM
The problem of empire-building is essentially mystical. It must somehow foster the impression that a man is great in the degree that his nation is great; that a German as such is superior to a Belgian as such; an Englishman, to an Irishman; an American, to a Mexican: merely because the first-named countries are in each case more powerful than their comparatives. And people who have no individual stature whatever are willing to accept this poisonous nonsense because it gives them a sense of importance without the trouble of any personal effort. —  Felix Morley, Freedom and Federalism, 1959
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December 10th, 2012 at 2:17PM
A standing army is like a standing member. It’s an excellent assurance of domestic tranquility, but a dangerous temptation to foreign adventure. —

 - Elbridge Gerry, Constitutional Convention, 1787 - While debating whether or not the newly founded U.S.A. should have a standing army or a militia. 

It’s important to note that Elbridge Gerry is the governor who was responsible for redrawing districts for which the term ‘Gerrymandering’ was coined.  
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