Reflections and Lessons From July 4th Signers
July 4th 2008 14:48
In honor of Independence Day, I offer you some of my favorite quotes from a few of the founding fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence. Enjoy and have a happy 4th!
Ben Franklin
"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”
"Half a truth is often a great lie.”
John Adams
"Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either [aristocracy or monarchy]. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”
“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence”
“The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people's hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice”
Samuel Adams
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds
”The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule.”
Thomas Jefferson
“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
“I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.”
"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms (of government) those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny”
“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.”
"Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government...”
Ben Franklin
"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”
"Half a truth is often a great lie.”
John Adams
"Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either [aristocracy or monarchy]. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”
“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence”
“The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people's hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice”
Samuel Adams
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds
”The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule.”
Thomas Jefferson
“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
“I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.”
"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms (of government) those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny”
“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.”
"Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government...”
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Hope you had a great 4th
Comment by Josie
Waxing Political
Unique Parent