"None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as far as we can perceive, much security for his being wiser than any of his neighbours"
- Thomas Babington
About this Quote
This quote by Thomas Babington is referring to the visit of a magistrate, or a public authorities with the power to enforce laws. Babington is suggesting that none of the 3 approaches of designating a magistrate - popular election, the mishap of the lot, or the mishap of birth - supply much security that the magistrate will be smarter than their neighbours. To put it simply, Babington is indicating that none of these approaches can ensure that the magistrate will be sensible or educated enough to make sound choices. This is likely due to the fact that popular election can be swayed by public opinion, the mishap of the lot is random, and the accident of birth is based on lineage rather than merit. Therefore, Babington is suggesting that none of these approaches can ensure that the magistrate will be wise or well-informed sufficient to make noise choices.
"I believe that successfully addressing our national security needs while protecting our basic freedoms and civil liberties requires continual Congressional oversight, and I will continue to work to assert the role of this body in carrying out this grave responsibility"
"As the bill requires, any terror alert system must give people and organizations some indication about what steps they must take to improve their own security and assist in the Nation's security"
"From protecting our natural resources to providing maritime security and national defense, the Coast Guard's duties are broad in scope, and the performance of those duties has never been more important"
"The only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even. Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what it was, nor forward to what it might be, but living in the present and accepting it as it is now"
"I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within"
"The new Congress needs to move quickly to strengthen the Army and Marines - not to send more troops to Iraq - but to rebuild our capacity to meet national security threats globally"
"I think America understands that energy security is a very important part of our national security. But if we are going to address energy security in a meaningful way going forward, we need to do it in a new manner. We cannot just be doing the same old thing"
