John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
5492 John Caldwell Calhoun 1782-1850 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 5492 |
| AUTHOR: | John Caldwell Calhoun (1782–1850) |
| QUOTATION: | The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, 1 bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Speech, Feb. 13, 1835. |
| Note 1. See Appendix, Quotation 45. [back] |