Founding Fathers Friday

[For Your] Weekend Liberty Quotes

A couple aren't 'Founding Fathers' per se, but notable figures none the less with good words to ponder. And though by virtue of their origin the words were spake in years past, how so relevant they still stand today, given our circumstances...[All underlines, bold font, and italics are mine, for emphasis.]


"At a time, when our lordly masters in Great Britain will be satisfied with nothing less than the deprivation of American freedom, it seems highly necessary that something should be done to avert the stroke, and maintain the liberty, which we have derived from our ancestors. But the manner of doing it, to answer the purpose effectually, is the point in question. That no man should scruple, or hesitate a moment, to use arms in defence of so valuable a blessing, on which all the good and evil of life depends, is clearly my opinion. Yet arms, I would beg leave to add, should be the last resource, the dernier resort. Addresses to the throne, and remonstrances to Parliament, we have already, it is said, proved the inefficacy of. How far, then, their attention to our rights and privileges is to be awakened or alarmed, by starving their trade and manufacturers, remains to be tried."
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to George Mason, Apr. 5, 1769


"Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech."
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, The New England Courant, Jul. 9, 1722


"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any,Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Declaration of Independence

[My dictionary defines "liberty" thus: "the state of being exempt from the domination of others or from restricting circumstances; freedom." and further "the power of voluntary choice; freedom from necessity". How much 'LIBERTY' do we have left, people?]


"When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property."
THOMAS JEFFERSON, attributed, The Quotable Founding Fathers

[Mr. Perry? Mr. Biden? Mr. Obama? I owe no MAN allegiance. I OWE YOU NOTHING. In fact, according to Mr. Jefferson, I OWN YOU!!! How's THEM apples?!?]


"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Notes on Virginia

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and cause me to tremble for safety of my country; corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in High Places will follow, and the Money Power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the People, until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the Republic destroyed."
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, letter to Col. William F. Elkins, Nov. 21, 1864

[I'd say he called THAT one!!!]

And I'm gonna leave you with those thoughts, and a hearty
SLAINTE! folks. Have a great weekend!


Cygnus