e persons,
separated from the rest of the world; and, to make the
example strong, let us suppose them all to be engaged in the
same pursuit, and to be of equal wealth. Let us further
suppose that they determine to govern the community by the
will of a majority; and, to make the case as strong as
possible, let us suppose that the majority, in order to
meet the expenses of the government, lay an equal tax, say
of one hundred dollars on each individual of this little
community. Their treasury would contain five hundred
dollars. Three are a majority; and they, by supposition,
have contributed three hundred as their portion, and the
other two (the minority), two hundred. The three have the
right to make the appropriations as they may think proper.
The question is, How would the principle of the absolute and
unchecked majority operate, under these circumstances, in
this little community?

JOHN C. CALHOUN: _Speech on The Force Bill_, 1833

The example should be taken from the same phase of life as the
proposition it explains. As Calhoun was discussing governmental
regulation he supposed an example from majority rule. In the next the
topic is copyright, so the illustration is not taken from patents. In
introducing your own examples avoid the trite, amateurish expression
"take, for instance."

Now, this is the sort of boon which my honorable and learned
friend holds out to authors. Considered as a boon to them,
it is a mere nullity; but, considered as an impost on the
public, it is no nullity, but a very serious and pernicious
reality. I will take an example. Dr. Johnson died fifty-six
years ago. If the law were what my honorable and learned
friend wishes to make it, somebody would now have the
monopoly of Dr. Johnson's works. Who that somebody would be
it is impossible to say; but we may venture to guess. I
guess, then, that it would have been some bookseller, who
was the assign of another bookseller, who was the grandson
of a third bookseller, who had bought the copyright from
Black Frank, the doctor's servant and residuary legatee, in
1785 or 1786. Now, would the knowledge that this copyright
would exist in 1841 have been a source of gratification to
Johnson? Would it have stimulated his exertions? Would it
have once drawn him out of his bed before noon