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Democratic institutions are based on a reality of human nature: that those with power, however benign or even noble their intentions, will do what they can to keep it.

Democratic power is the only voice most citizens have.

All forms of power - even based on the consensus of the democratic system - react when they are being attacked, or when those who exercise power become a target.

The possession of arbitrary power has always, the world over, tended irresistibly to destroy humane sensibility, magnanimity, and truth.

Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.

The democratic process is always vulnerable and threatened by terrorists, by parties that do not believe in democracy.

This House cannot function without an open, accountable, and independent ethics process; and the molestation of that process by the majority is an abuse of power that cannot stand.

Knowledge is the most democratic source of power.

Power tends to corrupt. But the power in Washington resides in Congress, if it wants to use it. It can do anything - it can stop the Vietnam War, it can make its will felt, if it can ever get its act together to do anything.