Founder's Quote Database | The Patriot Post

Founders' Quote Database

Keywords

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist No. 81 — 1788
Category: Judiciary

[T]here is not a syllable in the plan under consideration which directly empowers the national courts to construe the laws according to the spirit of the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Judge Spencer Roane — 1819
Category: Judiciary

The Constitution...is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary which they may twist and shape into any form they please.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Edward Livingston — 1825
Category: Judiciary

One single object...[will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Thomas Ritchie — 1820
Category: Judiciary

A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is a solecism, at least in a republican government.

John Adams

Thoughts on Government — 1776
Category: Judiciary

The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, and both should be checks upon that.

John Adams

Thoughts on Government — 1776
Category: Judiciary

[J]udges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention. Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man, or body of men.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Thomas Ritchie — 1820
Category: Judiciary

The judiciary of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers and miners constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations of our confederated fabric. They are construing our constitution from a co-ordination of a general and special government to a general and supreme one alone.

John Adams

letter to Elbridge Gerry — 1777
Category: Justice

Let justice be done though the heavens should fall.

Thomas Jefferson

First Inaugural Address — 1801
Category: Justice

[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....

Thomas Jefferson

Note in Destutt de Tracy — 1816
Category: Justice

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

James Madison

Federalist No. 51 — 1788
Category: Justice

Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.

George Washington

Farewell Address — 1796
Category: Justice

It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a People always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence.

Thomas Jefferson

Opinion on Debts Due to Soldiers — 1790
Category: Justice

It is not honorable to take mere legal advantage, when it happens to be contrary to justice.

Nathan Hale

before being hanged by the British — 1776
Category: Last Words

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

John Adams

after waking momentarily — 1826
Category: Last Words

Thomas Jefferson still lives.

John Adams

last public words as a toast for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence — 1826
Category: Declaration of Independence

Independence forever.

Thomas Jefferson

evening July 3; Jefferson died the next morning — 1826
Category: Last Words

Is it the Fourth?

George Washington

Last Words — 1799
Category: Last Words

Tis well.

Alexander Hamilton

speaking to his grieving wife — 1804
Category: Last Words

Remember, my Eliza, you are a Christian.

Benjamin Rush

letter to David Ramsay — 1788
Category: Law

[W]here there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all the members of the community.

Candidus

in the Boston Gazette — 1772
Category: Law

[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.

James Wilson

Of the Law of Nature — 1804
Category: Laws of Nature

The moral precepts delivered in the sacred oracles form a part of the law of nature, are of the same origin and of the same obligation, operating universally and perpetually.

James Wilson

Of the Study of the Law in the United States — 1790
Category: Law

To prevent crimes, is the noblest end and aim of criminal jurisprudence. To punish them, is one of the means necessary for the accomplishment of this noble end and aim.

James Wilson

Of the Study of the Law in the United States — 1790
Category: Law

Without liberty, law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without law, liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness.

Benjamin Franklin

Emblematical Representations — 1774
Category: Law

The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy.

Who We Are

The Patriot Post is a highly acclaimed weekday digest of news analysis, policy and opinion written from the heartland — as opposed to the MSM’s ubiquitous Beltway echo chambers — for grassroots leaders nationwide. More

What We Offer

On the Web

We provide solid conservative perspective on the most important issues, including analysis, opinion columns, headline summaries, memes, cartoons and much more.

Via Email

Choose our full-length Digest or our quick-reading Snapshot for a summary of important news. We also offer Cartoons & Memes on Monday and Alexander’s column on Wednesday.

Our Mission

The Patriot Post is steadfast in our mission to extend the endowment of Liberty to the next generation by advocating for individual rights and responsibilities, supporting the restoration of constitutional limits on government and the judiciary, and promoting free enterprise, national defense and traditional American values. We are a rock-solid conservative touchstone for the expanding ranks of grassroots Americans Patriots from all walks of life. Our mission and operation budgets are not financed by any political or special interest groups, and to protect our editorial integrity, we accept no advertising. We are sustained solely by you. Please support The Patriot Fund today!

The Patriot Post and Patriot Foundation Trust, in keeping with our Military Mission of Service to our uniformed service members and veterans, are proud to support and promote the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, both the Honoring the Sacrifice and Warrior Freedom Service Dogs aiding wounded veterans, the National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, the Folds of Honor outreach, and Officer Christian Fellowship, the Air University Foundation, and Naval War College Foundation, and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Email Subscriptions

Support The Patriot Post

FAQ / Contact Us / Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Reprinting Policy

★ PUBLIUS ★

“Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind!” —George Washington

Please join us in prayer for our nation — that righteous leaders would rise and prevail and we would be united as Americans. Pray also for the protection of our Military Patriots, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please lift up your Patriot team and our mission to support and defend our Republic's Founding Principle of Liberty, that the fires of freedom would be ignited in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

The Patriot Post is protected speech, as enumerated in the First Amendment and enforced by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, in accordance with the endowed and unalienable Rights of All Mankind.