From John Hancock (after signing the Declaration of Independence): There, I guess King George will be able to read that. From George Bernard Shaw: Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. From Edward Abbey: A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. Not for nothing was the revolver called an “equalizer.” Egalite implies liberte. And always will. Let us hope our weapons are never needed—but do not forget what the common people of this nation knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. From Mark Twain: July 4. Statistics show that we lose more fools on this day than in all the other days of the year put together. This proves, by the number left in stock, that one fourth of July per year is now inadequate, the country has grown so. From Ronald Reagan: Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15th.

Read more »

From Ralph Waldo Emerson: America is another name for opportunity. Our whole history appears like a last effort of divine providence on behalf of the human race. The true test of civilization is, not the census, nor the size of the cities, nor the crops—no, but the kind of man the country turns out. From Aesop: Better to starve free than be a fat slave. From Marilyn vos Savant: What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom ‘to’ and freedom ‘from.’ From Calvin Coolidge: Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country. From Erma Bombeck: You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.

Read more »

From John Adams: I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in Providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth. Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right and a desire to know; but besides this, they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean of the characters and conduct of their rulers. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance. The American Revolution was not a common event. Its effects and consequences have already been awful over a great part of the globe. And when and where are they to cease? But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution

Read more »

From Benjamin Franklin: Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Where liberty dwells, there is my country. Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. All Wars are Follies, very expensive, and very mischievous ones. When will Mankind be convinced of this, and agree to settle their Differences by Arbitration? Were they to do it, even by the Cast of a Dye, it would be better than by Fighting and destroying each other. There never was a good war or a bad peace. In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, — if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered; and I believe, farther, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as

Read more »

From Thomas Paine: Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Man is not the enemy of man but through the medium of a false system of government. Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first a patron, the last a punisher.

Read more »

From Patrick Henry: Gentlemen may cry, Peace, peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of the conscience; and it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other. Suspicion is a virtue as long as its object is the public good, and as long as it stays within proper bounds. … Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one

Read more »

From Thomas Jefferson: The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave. No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will. My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever. I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become corrupt as in Europe. Paper is poverty … it is only the ghost of money, and not money itself. The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.

Read more »

From Andrew Jackson: The brave man inattentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country, than the coward who deserts her in the hour of danger. One man with courage makes a majority. It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society — the farmers, mechanics, and laborers — who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and,

Read more »

From George Washington: To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving the peace. The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die. Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at last. Government is not reason, it is not eloquence—it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.

Read more »