Those Passions are the same in all Men under all forms of Simple Government, and when unchecked, produce the same Effects of Fraud Violence and Cruelty.” It is not true in Fact and no where appears in history. There never was a Democracy Yet, that did not commit suicide,” he wrote, before continuing, “It is in vain to Say that Democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious or less avaricious than Aristocracy or Monarchy. It soon wastes exhausts and murders itself. The saying ascribed to Adams comes from a letter he wrote in 1814.
We looked into the sayings, finding that while two can be ascribed to Adams and Hamilton, the quotes attributed to Jefferson and Franklin are spurious. This image supposedly quotes four founders, each making a remark that is critical of democracy. (RELATED: Did George Washington Say This Quote About A ‘Government’s Right To Govern’) Social media users will often lean upon the prestige of America’s founding fathers by attributing political quotes to them.
