Founders’ Quotes

The ingredients which constitute energy in the Executive are, first, unity; secondly, duration; thirdly, an adequate provision for its support; fourthly, competent powers.

It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor.

A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive.

A republican government is slow to move, yet when once in motion, its momentum becomes irresistible.

We must take human nature as we find it, perfection falls not to the share of mortals.

To render us again one people acting as one nation should be the object of every man really a patriot.

Newspapers ... serve as chimnies to carry off noxious vapors and smoke.

The eyes of the world being thus on our Country, it is put the more on its good behavior, and under the greater obligation also, to do justice to the Tree of Liberty by an exhibition of the fine fruits we gather from it.

There! His Majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!

The great desiderata are a free representation and mutual checks. When these are obtained, all our apprehensions of the extent of powers are unjust and imaginary.

When right, I shall often be thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground.

Here comes the orator! With his flood of words, and his drop of reason.

If men through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce and give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the great end of society, would absolutely vacate such renunciation; the right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave.

Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.

The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.

Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you.

The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.

It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.