AMERICAN FOUNDATIONAL QUOTES
EXCESSIVE TAXATION
Excessive taxation … will carry reason and reflection to every man’s door, and particularly in the hour of election.
—Thomas Jefferson (1798)
IF DUTIES ARE TOO HIGH
If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds.
—Alexander Hamilton (1787)
POWER MUST BE RESTRAINED
It will not be denied that power is of an encroaching nature and that it ought to be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it.
—James Madison (1788)
PASSION VERSUS REASON
I
n all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the scepter from reason.
—James Madison, Federalist 55
GRADUAL VERSUS SUDDEN USURPATION
There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
—James Madison (1788)
REASON VERSUS GULLIBILITY
Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason and the mind becomes a wreck.
—Thomas Jefferson (1822)
PERSUE GREAT PRINCIPLES
It behooves you, therefore, to think and act for yourself and your people. The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors.
—Thomas Jefferson (1775)
BE READY FOR WAR
If we desire to insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.
—George Washington (1793)
TRIUMPH COMES WITH CONFLICT
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
—Thomas Paine (1776)
POLITICAL PRINCIPLES HAVING CHARACTER
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 (1808)
PAINFUL HOSTILITY
It has been a source of great pain to me to have met with so many among [my] opponents who had not the liberality to distinguish between political and social opposition; who transferred at once to the person, the hatred they bore to his political opinions.
—Thomas Jefferson (1808)
HOSTILITY AGAINST TYRANNY
I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
—Thomas Jefferson (1800)
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there used to be.
—John Adams (1826)
SERVITUDE
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.
- Samuel Adams, speech at the Philadelphia State House, August 1, 1776
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