Quotes from our founding fathers

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence—it is force.” – George Washington

“No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him.” – Thomas Jefferson

“The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants…God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such rebellion; what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms!” – Thomas Jefferson

“Under the laws of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the Liberty of moving and using it at his own will. This is what is called personal Liberty, and is given him by the Author of nature, because necessary for his own sustenance.” – Thomas Jefferson

“I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” – Thomas Jefferson

“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.” – Thomas Jefferson

“It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power.” – John Adams

“They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Make yourself a sheep and the wolves will eat you.” – Benjamin Franklin

“If ye love wealth greater than Liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” – Samuel Adams

“The right to revolt has sources deep in our history.” – Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas

“Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free, doesn’t deserve to be.” – L. Neil Smith

“Give government the weapons to fight your enemy and it will use them against you.” – Harry Browne

“Patrick Henry did NOT say, ‘ Give me safety or give me death’ ”—John Stossel ABC 20/20

“Civilization does not have to perish. The brutes are winning only by default.” – Ayn Rand

“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” – Edward R. Morrow

“But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of Liberty, and that you must pay that price if you wish to secure the blessing. It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government.” – Andrew Jackson

“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one!” – Alexander Hamilton

“It has been observed that pure Democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this.” – Alexander Hamilton

“We would rather die on our feet, than live on our knees.”—Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” – Abraham Lincoln