"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." --Declaration of Independence, 1776
"But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever." ~John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775
“But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.” --Thomas Jefferson, September 6, 1789
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.” --John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776
“Have you something to do to-morrow; do it today.” --Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1742
“Here sir, the people govern.” ----Alexander Hamilton, speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, June 17, 1788
“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.” --Benjamin Franklin, On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor, November 1766
“I pronounce it as certain that there was never yet a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.” --Benjamin Franklin, The Busy-body, No. 3, February 18, 1728