The Founders recognized that Government is quite literally a necessary evil, that there must be opposition, between its various branches, and between political parties, for these are the only ways to temper the individual's greed for power and the electorates' desires for peace by submission to coercion or blandishment.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the belief of the Founders that government is essential but inherently flawed. They understood that the power it holds could be corrupting, so they designed a system with checks and balances and encouraged political opposition. By establishing competing branches and parties, they aimed to prevent any single entity from accumulating too much control. This approach was meant to curb both the individual's pursuit of power and the public's inclination towards surrendering their freedoms for the sake of stability or persuasion.

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