In our system leadership is by consent not command. To lead a President must persuade. Personal contacts and experiences help shape his thinking. They can be critical to his persuasiveness and thus to his leadership.

No power in society no hardship in your condition can depress you keep you down in knowledge power virtue influence but by your own consent.

I can be forced to live without happiness but I will never consent to live without honor.

Your successes and happiness are forgiven you only if you generously consent to share them.

The Government and the Parliament even the House of Lords will consent to a large increase of electors and men who have not considered the subject fully will imagine they have gained much by the concession.

Two hundred years ago our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple yet noble idea that government derives its validity from the consent of the governed.

Government itself is founded upon the great doctrine of the consent of the governed and has its cornerstone in the memorable principle that men are endowed with inalienable rights.

I cannot consent that my mortal body shall be laid in a repository prepared for an Emperor or a King my republican feelings and principles forbid it the simplicity of our system of government forbids it.

Our nation is built on the bedrock principle that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.

For in reason all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.