Quote by Benjamin Franklin
A plural Legislature is as necessary to good Government as a single Executive. It is not enough that your Legislature should be numerous; it should also be divided. Numbers alone are not a sufficient Barrier against the Impulses of Passion, the Combinations of Interest, the Intrigues of Faction, the Haste of Folly, or the Spirit of Encroachment. One Division should watch over and controul the other, supply its Wants, correct its Blunders, and cross its Designs, should they be criminal or erroneous. Wisdom is the specific Quality of the Legislature, grows out of the Number of the Body, and is made up of the Portions of Sense and Knowledge which each Member brings to it.
Summary
The quote emphasizes the importance of a plural legislature in ensuring good governance. It argues that simply having a large number of legislators is not enough; there also needs to be division among them. This division acts as a safeguard against the negative influences of passion, personal interests, factions, hasty decision-making, and encroachment on individual rights. By having separate divisions, each can oversee and regulate the other, correcting mistakes and preventing criminal or erroneous actions. The wisdom required for effective legislating emerges from the collective intelligence, diverse perspectives, and various areas of expertise that each member contributes to the legislature.
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