These are some of my favorite quotes by American Patriots! As you read them, you will begin to gain a clear perspective of the views of those who formed our country and of those who have employed the courage to maintain it!

     A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

James Madison, letter to W.T. Barry, August 4, 1822

     A universal peace, it is to be feared, is in the catalogue of events, which will never exist but in the imagination of visionary philosophers, or in the breasts of benevolent enthusiasts.

James Madison, essay in the National Gazette, February, 2, 1792

     A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued; but once they loose their virtue, then they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invaders.

                       Samuel Adams’ letter to James Warren, February 12, 1779

     An unlimited power to tax involves, necisarilary, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can gear taxation.

                      John Marshall, McCullough vs. Maryland 1879

     Before a standing Army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.

       Noah Webster, An examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, 1787

     Tis folly in one nation to look for disinterested favour from another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalence for normal favours and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect, or to calculate upon real favours from nation to nation. Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.

                     George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796

     Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.

                             George Washington, Circular to the states, May 9, 1753