Happy Independence Day

Last year, I published a selection of quotations from our founding fathers. I have listed some more for this year. For the Fourth of July, I want you to consider what we are celebrating. Is the government we currently have following the spirit that we celebrate on that day? Is society operating as a freedom-loving society should? Meditate on the following quotations. Ask yourself if today's America, and if today's major political parties measure up to the spirit of these great American Revolutionaries.

"I, however, place economy among the first and most important republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."
--Thomas Jefferson to William Plumer, July 21, 1816


"Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights."
--Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, January 8, 1789


"As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights."
--James Madison


"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."
--James Madison


"It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad."
--James Madison


"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood."
--James Madison


"The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."
--James Madison


"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse."
--James Madison


"The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war."
--James Madison


"We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties."
--James Madison


"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"
--Samuel Adams


"The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
--Samuel Adams


"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can"
--Samuel Adams


"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks."
--Samuel Adams


"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader."
--Samuel Adams


"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
--George Washington


"If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War."
--George Washington


"It is our true policy to steer clear of entangling alliances with any portion of the foreign world."
--George Washington


"It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it."
--George Washington


"Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty."
--George Washington


"The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure."
--George Washington


"The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it."
--George Washington


"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference -- they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
--George Washington


"When firearms go, all goes. We need them every hour."
--George Washington


"When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen."
--George Washington


There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government.
--Benjamin Franklin


There never was a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.
--Benjamin Franklin

posted by The Sovereign Editor | 2:59 AM | 3 comments |

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