Words of the Founders
Words of the Founders
Disclaimer: Quotes have limited value in a debate. They are only submitted here so as to assure folks that the founders thought of these issues as well. There is a context for each quote, but it was not researched here. Arguing over the meaning of a person living 200 years ago is difficult. Our debate is much better done in the present time with our own ideas.
“I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions, but … laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” – Thomas Jefferson in 1816
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive.” –Thomas Jefferson
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant, and a fearful master.” –George Washington
“It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government.” -Tomas Paine
“What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.” -Thomas Jefferson
“Those that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” -Benjamin Franklin
“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” – James Madison
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is its natural manure.” –Thomas Jefferson
“As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived, it seems strictly consonant to the republican theory to recur to the same original authority … whenever it may be necessary to enlarge, diminish, or new-model the powers of government.” -James Madison
“Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” -Benjamin Franklin
“It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers, but by their distribution that good government is effected.” -Thomas Jefferson
“…a little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” – Thomas Jefferson
“A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of a higher obligation. … To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the ends to the means.” –Thomas Jefferson
“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; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man who knows what the law is today can guess what it will be tomorrow.” –James Madison
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” –Tomas Paine
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” –Thomas Paine
“Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” -Thomas Jefferson
(Words-of-the-Founders)
