America’s Founding Fathers on the Defense of Liberty

15 Jul

“I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” -George Mason

“Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not.” -Thomas Jefferson

“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.” -Richard Henry Lee

“Those who give up liberty for security, deserve neither.” -Benjamin Franklin

“The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” -Thomas Jefferson.

“I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.”-Thomas Jefferson

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.” -Patrick Henry

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!” -Samuel Adams

“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” -Samuel Adams

“The truth is, all might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought.” -Samuel Adams

“Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” -Samuel Adams

“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.” -Patrick Henry

“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?” -Patrick Henry

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is a instrument for the people to restrain the government.” -Patrick Henry