...modifies Pope's famous maxim: Though we cannot acquiesce in the political heresy of the poet who says: "For forms of government let fools contest — That which is best administered is best," — yet we may safely pronounce that the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency...

...Revolutionary generation, Adams began Thoughts on Government by rejecting Alexander Pope's famous epigram: For forms of government let fools contest, That which is best administered is best.6 Adams countered, and his contemporaries agreed: "Nothing is more certain from the history of...

...remember that the government is primarily an administrative body, and may I quote in conclusion: "O'er forms of government let fools contest, That which is best administered is best." Mr. Chairman Gentlemen, is it the wish that we adjourn the debate to enable any of the members who...

...qualified degree in Federalist 68: Though we cannot acquiesce in the political heresy of the poet who says: 'For forms of government let fools contest — That which is best administered is best,' — yet we may safely pronounce, that the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency...

...conceited neighbor? (No. 65) THOUGH WE CANNOT acquiesce in the political heresy of the poet who says: "For forms of government let fools contest; that which is best administered is best;"* yet we may safely pronounce, that the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency to...

...framing of the executive is neatly illustrated by Hamilton's use of Alexander Pope in Federalist 68: "For forms of government let fools contest/ That which is best administered is best." Always eager to reiterate the point, Hamilton added that the "test of a good government" is its "tendency...

...and Tyranny John A. Marini Though we cannot acquiesce in the political heresy of the poet who says: 'For forms of government let fools contest — That which is best administered is best,' — yet we may safely pronounce, that the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency...

...Government should be administered for itself and not for party. You will recall the lines of Pope: 'For forms of government let fools contest, That which is best administered is best.'6 As for existing parties, they must change. They have already begun to disintegrate and dissolve....

...inauspiciously." Hamilton had not quite reached the well-known position inscribed by Alexander Pope: For forms of government let fools contest, That which is best administered is best. Still, he had come close enough, even though in Federalist 68 he labeled Pope's verse a "political...

...republican government. Both authors rejected as flippant and irresponsible Pope's sarcastic couplet: "For forms of government let fools contest, That which is best administered is best."12 Both writers used the same criterion for determining the best form of government: the security...