Quotations
George Washington
1st President of the United States In office April 30, 1789* – March 4, 1797
He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783. Washington's Farewell Address (issued as a public letter in 1796) was one of the most influential statements of republicanism. Washington was an outspoken leader in calling for religious liberty and tolerance, and used his prestige as general and president to promote good will among Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Washington was initiated into Freemasonry in 1752
To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
It means that having a strong defense is the best way to avoid war. Another example is, people who are able to defend themselves are less likely to be attacked by criminals. Criminals prefer defenseless victims. Areas of he US where firearms ownership is widespread, generally have less crime than areas where the law abiding are unable to protect themselves with a firearm.
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd President of the United States In office March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809.
was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence (1776) . A leader in The Enlightenment, Jefferson was a polymath who spoke five languages and was deeply interested in science and political philosophy. was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1779, 1786). Jefferson rejected the orthodox Christianity of his day and was especially hostile to the Catholic Church as he saw it operate in France.
I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.
The wrath of God brought down on a country that permits slavery? A nation damned by its original sin? God damn America?
When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.
Thomas Jefferson often took the opportunity to advise his children, grandchildren and others on matters of personal conduct. Over the years he developed a list of axioms for personal behavior. Some were his own invention; others derived from classical or English sources.
Jefferson's most extensive list is the one he sent to Cornelia Jefferson Randolph, a young granddaughter, while she was visiting her older sister and new brother-in-law.
How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened!
The price of avoiding evil is often pain.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniencies attending too much liberty than those attending too small degree of it.
No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will.
The Founders viewed the press as a 'censor' of the Government, as an opposing force, not as some mindless vehicle for reciting and disseminating the Government's claims. It serves as a check on government deceit and abuses of power only when it sees itself as something more than a microphone for the Government to use to amplify its statements
We were directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.
When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.
1)The value underlying in this statement is the recognition that the life you lead, is no longer you own , but is given freely in the service of a nation I.E. you are a part of the system and as such you can no longer expect either privacy or that you will be entitled to put yourself, or your interests above that of the people you serve, and they have a right to know who they have as a leader, in all aspects of your conduct.
2) He means that when a man is elected into office he is there to serve the public not himself. In Thomas Jefferson's time period the government didn't give anyone money, there was no welfare of any kind, not for the people and not for corporations.
Delay is preferable to error.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.
His example of the tree and Manure is The Tree of Liberty, needs to be fertilized from time to time. Blood was an old time fertilizer, but as blood decays it turns into a rich fertilizer that becomes constructive compared to the destructive process of blood letting of patriots and tyrants. So the payoff for Liberty is shedding blood but the pay off is that the tree will be stronger and healthier in the process.
It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God.