“The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.”
Home“I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”
Freedom“The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.”
Home“Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”
Trust“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”
Knowledge“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
Government“Whenever a youth is ascertained to possess talents meriting an education which his parents cannot afford, he should be carried forward at the public expense.”
Education“Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.”
Best“The happy Union of these States is a wonder their Constitution a miracle their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.”
Hope“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”
Freedom“Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.”
Government“In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must first enable the government to control the governed and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
Government“A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.”
Government“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.”
Government“What spectacle can be more edifying or more seasonable, than that of Liberty and Learning, each leaning on the other for their mutual and surest support?”
Learning“If we are to take for the criterion of truth the majority of suffrages, they ought to be gotten from those philosophic and patriotic citizens who cultivate their reason.”
Truth“The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.”
Government“A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.”
Best“The capacity of the female mind for studies of the highest order cannot be doubted, having been sufficiently illustrated by its works of genius, of erudition, and of science.”
Science“Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done.”
Power“War contains so much folly, as well as wickedness, that much is to be hoped from the progress of reason.”
War“A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.”
Alone