A Worthy Quote

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"Where 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."

--Benjamin Rush, Letter to David Ramsay, 1788

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."

--Thomas Jefferson, fair copy of the drafts of the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"The almost general mediocrity of fortune that prevails in America obliging its people to follow some business for subsistence, those vices, that arise usually from idleness, are in a great measure prevented. Industry and constant employment are great preservatives of the morals and virtue of a nation. Hence bad examples to youth are more rare in America, which must be a comfortable consideration to parents. To this may be truly added, that serious religion, under its various denominations, is not only tolerated, but respected and practiced."

--Benjamin Franklin, Information to Those Who Would Remove to America, 1782

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"The pyramid of government -- and a republican government may well receive that beautiful and solid form -- should be raised to a dignified altitude: but its foundations must, of consequence, be broad, and strong, and deep. The authority, the interests, and the affections of the people at large are the only foundation, on which a superstructure proposed to be at once durable and magnificent, can be rationally erected."

--James Wilson, Legislative Department, 1804

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"No country can be called free which is governed by an absolute power; and it matters not whether it be an absolute royal power or an absolute legislative power, as the consequences will be the same to the people."

--Thomas Paine, Four Letters on Interesting Subjects, 1776

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"I often note with equal pleasure that God gave this one connected country to one united people -- a people descended from the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in manners and customs, who by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side through a long bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence."

--John Jay, Federalist No. 2, 1787

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"On the other hand, the duty imposed upon him [the president] to take care, that the laws be faithfully executed, follows out the strong injunctions of his oath of office, that he will "preserve, protect, and defend the constitution." The great object of the executive department is to accomplish this purpose; and without it, be the form of government whatever it may, it will be utterly worthless for offence, or defence; for the redress of grievances, or the protection of rights; for the happiness, or good order, or safety of the people."

--Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"It is ... [the citizens] choice, and depends upon their conduct, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptable and miserable as a Nation. This is the time of their political probation; this is the moment when the eyes of the World are turned upon them."

--George Washington, Letter to the Governors, 1783

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"If individuals be not influenced by moral principles; it is in vain to look for public virtue; it is, therefore, the duty of legislators to enforce, both by precept and example, the utility, as well as the necessity of a strict adherence to the rules of distributive justice."

--James Madison, in response to Washington's first Inaugural address, 1789

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify."

--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 33, 1788

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"What concerns all, should be considered by all; and individuals may injure a whole society, by not declaring their sentiments. It is therefore not only their right, but their duty, to declare them."

--John Dickinson, Letters of Fabius, 1788

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"The most perfect freedom consists in obeying the dictates of right reason, and submitting to natural law. When a man goes beyond or contrary to the law of nature and reason, he becomes the slave of base passions and vile lusts; he introduces confusion and disorder into society, and brings misery and destruction upon himself. This, therefore, cannot be called a state of freedom, but a state of the vilest slavery and the most dreadful bondage. The servants of sin and corruption are subjected to the worst kind of tyranny in the universe. Hence we conclude that where licentiousness begins, liberty ends."

--Samuel West, On the Right to Rebel Against Governors, 1776

[nChrist]

"I suppose, indeed, that in public life, a man whose political principles have any decided character and who has energy enough to give them effect must always expect to encounter political hostility from those of adverse principles."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard M. Johnson, 1808

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"The fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follow that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression."

--Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Samuel Kerchival, 1816

[nChrist]

Founder's Quote Daily

"The truth is, that, even with the most secure tenure of office, during good behavior, the danger is not, that the judges will be too firm in resisting public opinion, and in defence of private rights or public liberties; but, that they will be ready to yield themselves to the passions, and politics, and prejudices of the day."

--Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833