Words To Live By, And Words To Ponder (On Why Our American Republic Is Falling).

"Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them."

-- Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833