James Wilson Quotes

James Wilson delivers a grand, plain-spoken look at politics, law and justice for anyone curious about state power.

22 quotes

To the Constitution of the United States the term SOVEREIGN, is totally unknown.

#1
Man, fearfully and wonderfully made, is the workmanship of his all perfect Creator: A State; useful and valuable as the contrivance is, is the inferior contrivance of man; and from his native dignity derives all its acquired importance.

#2
Let a state be considered as subordinate to the people: But let everything else be subordinate to the state.

#3
By a State I mean, a complete body of free persons united together for their common benefit, to enjoy peaceably what is their own, and to do justice to others.

#4
Every juror swears that he will give a true verdict according to his evidence. The sacred obligation of this oath demands, that to unanimity truth shall not be made a sacrifice.

#5
That men ought to be governed, seems to have been agreed on all hands: the reason is, that, without government, they could never attain any high or permanent share of perfection or happiness. But the question has been ? by whom should they be governed? And this has been made a question, by reason of two others ? by whom can they be governed? ? are they capable of governing themselves?

#6
With regard, says Rousseau, to the prerogative of granting pardon to criminals, condemned by the laws of their country, and sentenced by the judges, it belongs only to that power, which is superiour both to the judges and the laws ? the sovereign authority.

#7
The executive power is better to be trusted when it has no screen. Sir, we have a responsibility in the person of our President; he cannot act improperly, and hide either his negligence or inattention; he cannot roll upon any other person the weight of his criminality; no appointment can take place without his nomination; and he is responsible for every nomination he makes... far from being above the laws, he is amenable to them in his private character as a citizen, and in his public character by impeachment.

#8
Certainly, its important to protect the water system and that covers, certainly, everything from vandals to terrorists.
Christianity is part of the common law.
In the world of photography, you get to share a captured moment with other people.
The housing market will get worse before it gets better.
“A hookup is no more of a commitment than jacking yourself off. It’s convenient, easy and you can go back to watching your collection of Broadway musicals when you’re done.”
“If his conversation is more about your physical qualities than your goals in life, he’s not thinking long-term.”
“You’ve worked hard for that flat gut. Trust it.”
“The culture without children is forever immature, self-obsessed and rightous. They cannot help the high opinion they have of themselves; there's no kids around to show them otherwise.”
“Oft have I marked, with silent pleasure and admiration, the force and prevalence, through the United States, of the principle that the supreme power resides in the people, and that they never part with it. It may be called the panacea in politics.”
“just when you think you’ve got it all sorted, something happens to make you question yourself and the world all over again.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“All ways remember, incoming fire has the right of way.”
“isn’t wearing the right clothes, it’s wearing clothes right.”
“As with anything, it comes down to the choices you make, and the honesty you display.”