Publius

"From this summary of what has taken place in other countries, whose situations have borne the nearest resemblance to our own, what reason can we have to confide in those reveries, which would seduce us into the expectation of peace and cordiality between the members of the present confederacy, in a state of separation? Have we not already seen enough of the fallacy and extravagance of those idle theories which have amused us with promises of an exemption from the imperfections, the weaknesses, and the evils incident to society in every shape? Is it not time to awake from the deceitful dream of a golden age, and to adopt as a practical maxim for the direction of our political conduct, that we, as well as the other inhabitants of the globe, are yet remote from the happy empire of perfect wisdom and perfect virtue?"

Publius, 
The Federalist 6

Cesare Beccaria

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms ... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. ... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants."

--Cesare Beccaria, quoted by Thomas Jefferson in Commonplace Book

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Mercy Warren

"It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which they have bled. It must be the combined virtue of the rulers and of the people to do this, and to rescue and save their civil and religious rights from the outstretched arm of tyranny, which may appear under any mode or form of government."

--Mercy Warren, History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution, 1805

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George Washington

"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."

--George Washington

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Samuel Williams

"It is not necessary to enumerate the many advantages, that arise from this custom of early marriages. They comprehend all the society can receive from this source; from the preservation, and increase of the human race. Every thing useful and beneficial to man, seems to be connected with obedience to the laws of his nature, the inclinations, the duties, and the happiness of individuals, resolve themselves into customs and habits, favourable, in the highest degree, to society. In no case is this more apparent, than in the customs of nations respecting marriage."

--Samuel Williams, The Natural and Civil History of Vermont, 1794

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James Madison

"A just security to property is not afforded by that government, under which unequal taxes oppress one species of property and reward another species."

--James Madison, Essay on Property, 1792

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Richard Henry Lee

"It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people." -

Richard Henry Lee, letter to Colonel Martin Pickett, 1786

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John Adams

"If men through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce and give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the great end of society, would absolutely vacate such renunciation; the right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave."

--John Adams, Rights of the Colonists, 1772

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Thomas Jefferson

"If, then, the control of the people over the organs of their government be the measure of its republicanism, and I confess I know no other measure, it must be agreed that our governments have much less of republicanism than ought to have been expected; in other words, that the people have less regular control over their agents, than their rights and their interests require."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Taylor, 1816

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Joseph Story

"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a republic."

--Joseph Story

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Patrick Henry

"Is the relinquishment of the trial by jury and the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to the security of your liberty? Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings -- give us that precious jewel, and you may take every things else! Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel."

--Patrick Henry, Speech to the Virginia Convention, 1788

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Thomas Paine

"It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf."

--Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, 1776

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Thomas Jefferson

"If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Cooper, 1802

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Joseph Warren

"Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of. Our enemies are numerous and powerful; but we have many friends, determining to be free, and heaven and earth will aid the resolution. On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves."

--Joseph Warren, Boston Massacre Oration, 1775

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James Madison

"The eyes of the world being thus on our Country, it is put the more on its good behavior, and under the greater obligation also, to do justice to the Tree of Liberty by an exhibition of the fine fruits we gather from it."

--James Madison, letter to James Monroe, 1824

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Chinese Proverb (ouch!)

"The tears of strangers are just water."

--Chinese Proverb

Commentary: Wow!!! And yet so very many people aspire to eastern spirituality. Why? Is it to lower their level of compassion? I've never seen any Christian speak like this who wasn't out on the extreme lunatic fringe in all aspects of his life. Yet the Chinese seem to think this way "en mass." Come to think of it, those aspiring to eastern spirituality seem to be the same ones who want to kill the unborn. Ok. Now it makes sense.

Thomas Jefferson

"Love your neighbor as yourself and your country more than yourself."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, 1825

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George Washington

"We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die: Our won Country's Honor, all call upon us for vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions."

--George Washington, General Orders, 1776

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John Jay

"But the safety of the people of America against dangers from foreign force depends not only on their forbearing to give just causes of war to other nations, but also on their placing and continuing themselves in such a situation as not to invite hostility or insult; for it need not be observed that there are pretended as well as just causes of war."

--John Jay, Federalist No. 4

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Nathan Hale

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

--Nathan Hale, before being hanged by the British, 1776

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Thomas Jefferson

"The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt, are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife."

--Thomas Jefferson (1821)

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Alexander Hamilton

"Foreign influence is truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its influence."

--Alexander Hamilton, Pacificus, No. 6, 1793

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Thomas Jefferson

"Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to Wilson Nicholas, 1803

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James Madison

"There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises. To say that the United States should be answerable for twenty-five millions of dollars without knowing whether the ways and means can be provided, and without knowing whether those who are to succeed us will think with us on the subject, would be rash and unjustifiable. Sir, in my opinion, it would be hazarding the public faith in a manner contrary to every idea of prudence."

--James Madison, Speech in Congress, 1790

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Benjamin Franklin

"In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will now and then peek out and show itself."

--Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 1771

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Thomas Jefferson

"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."

--Thomas Jefferson

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Patrick Henry

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave."

--Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Convention, 1775

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