"Every form of government tends to perish by excess of its basic principle"

This quote by Will Durant recommends that any type of government, no matter how effective it may be, will ultimately stop working if it takes its core principles too far. This is due to the fact that when a government becomes too severe in its beliefs and practices, it can cause a lack of balance and stability. This can trigger the federal government to become oppressive and despotic, leading to a lack of public support and eventually its failure. This quote serves as an alerting to federal governments to be conscious of their core concepts and to not take them too far. It also serves as a suggestion to citizens to be knowledgeable about their federal government's actions and to speak up if they feel that it is becoming too extreme. Eventually, this quote serves as a suggestion that all governments need to remain balanced and moderate in order to stay successful.