Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2003-07-31 Jul 31, 2003The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.~ William HazlittFreedom is the fundamental character of the will, as weight is of matter... That which is free is the will. Will without freedom is an empty word.~ Georg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelThere is no subjugation so perfect as that which keeps the appearance of freedom for in that way one captures volition itself.~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jul 30, 2003The doctrine of blind obedience and unqualified submission to any human power, whether civil or ecclesiastical, is the doctrine of despotism, and ought to have no place among Republicans and Christians.~ Angelica GrimkeTolerance is a better guarantee of freedom than brotherly love; for a man may love his brother so much that he feels himself thereby appointed his brother’s keeper.~ Everett Dean MartinFreedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.~ George Orwell Jul 29, 2003Under every government the [last] resort of the people, is an appeal to the sword; whether to defend themselves against the open attacks of a foreign enemy, or to check the insidious encroachments of domestic foes. Whenever a people ... entrust the defence of their country to a regular, standing army, composed of mercenaries, the power of that country will remain under the direction of the most wealthy citizens.~ A FramerOf the liberty of conscience in matters of religious faith, of speech and of the press; of the trial by jury of the vicinage in civil and criminal cases; of the benefit of the writ of habeas corpus; of the right to keep and bear arms.... If these rights are well defined, and secured against encroachment, it is impossible that government should ever degenerate into tyranny.~ James MonroeIt had become an universal and almost uncontroverted position in the several States, that the purposes of society do not require a surrender of all our rights to our ordinary governors; that there are certain portions of right not necessary to enable them to carry on an effective government, and which experience has nevertheless proved they will be constantly encroaching on, if submitted to them; that there are also certain fences which experience has proved peculiarly efficacious against wrong, and rarely obstructive of right, which yet the governing powers have ever shown a disposition to weaken and remove. Of the first kind, for instance, is freedom of religion; of the second, trial by jury, habeas corpus laws, free presses.~ Thomas Jefferson Jul 28, 2003On every question of construction [of the Constitution] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or intended against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.~ Thomas JeffersonA constitution is not the act of a government, but of a people constituting a government; and government without a constitution is power without a right. All power exercised over a nation, must have some beginning. It must be either delegated, or assumed. There are not other sources. All delegated power is trust, and all assumed power is usurpation. Time does not alter the nature and quality of either.~ Thomas PaineWe enjoy freedom and the rule of law on which it depends, not because we deserve it, but because others before us put their lives on the line to defend it.~ Thomas Sowell Jul 25, 2003There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state.~ John AdamsIf newsmen do not tell the truth as they see it because it might make waves, or if their bosses decide something should or should not be broadcast because of Washington or Main Street consequences, we have dishonored ourselves and we have lost the First Amendment by default.~ Richard SalantThe aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.~ James MadisonFree discussion is the only necessary Constitution -- the only necessary Law of the Constitution.~ Richard Carlile Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print