‘Founding Fathers’ Archives
Benjamin Franklin Quotes
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Historical Review of Pennsylvania 1759 Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. It is very imprudent to deprive America of any of her privileges. If [...]
Thomas Jefferson Quotes (UPD: New Quotes, tribute video)
Liberty is to the collective body what health is to every individual body. Without health, no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society. The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the constitution so the second will not become the [...]
Rethinking the Declaration of Independence by Brion McClanahan
Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1825 that he intended the Declaration of Independence to be “an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.”Yet, he did not propose the Declaration should “find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of….” The [...]
Abraham Lincoln Quotes
No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar. Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the [...]
John Adams Quotes
But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. - letter to Abigail Adams July 17, 1775 We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest [...]
John Jay Quotes
John Jay was one of the founders, co-author to the Federalist Papers and the first to fashion the US foreign relations. He served as the ambassador to Spain and France and then the First Chief Justice. The "Jay Treaty" helped secure the peace terms with the British (and the French). Jay served as Governor of New York and served as a vocal opponent [...]
James Madison Quotes
James Madison was our 4th President, a close friend to Thomas Jefferson, helped push through, amongst other things, religious freedom statues. Madison's draft of the "Virginia Plan" and his revolutionary idea of three branches of federal government were the basis of the Constitution. To promote ratification of the Constitution Madison wrote [...]
Alexander Hamilton Quotes
Alexander Hamilton was the first US Treasurer, one of the Founding Fathers, and an economist. And yes, he's the "guy" on the ten dollar bill. He wrote the Federalist papers with John Jay and James Madison, later meeting his demise in the famous duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man. - [...]
George Washington Famous Quotes
Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company. Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give [...]
Abigail Adams: Remember the Ladies
March 31, 1776 Abigail Adams wrote this to her husband John Adams: "I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. "Do not put such [...]
