Founders’ Quotes

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.

How much more do they deserve our reverence and praise, whose lives are devoted to the formation of institutions, which, when they and their children are mingled in the common dust, may continue to cherish the principles and the practice of liberty in perpetual freshness and vigour.

Speak seldom, but to important subjects, except such as particularly relate to your constituents, and, in the former case, make yourself perfectly master of the subject.

We know the Race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and directs this Storm?

[T]he most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.

The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world.

The Army (considering the irritable state it is in, its suffering and composition) is a dangerous instrument to play with.

Excessive taxation ... will carry reason and reflection to every man's door, and particularly in the hour of election.

Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.

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

In planning, forming, and arranging laws, deliberation is always becoming, and always useful.

Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason and the mind becomes a wreck.

[I]t is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government... Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever persuasion, religious or political.

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; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.

We are teaching the world the great truth that Governments do better without Kings & Nobles than with them. The merit will be doubled by the other lesson that Religion Flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Government.

It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth.

A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy.

It is a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.