His warning wasn't strong enough although he understood corruption very well.
What he was basically saying is that if the American Colonies did not rule themselves well and honestly they would go down the drain just as Athens did.
Democracy and Freedom are not words on a piece of paper. They must be lived well and attended to every day by all citizens. It is not disagreement that destroys a democracy. It is not listening carefully when someone with an opposing opinion voices it.
There has not been so much hatred in the United States since the Civil War.
