The best of Thomas Jefferson
When we get piled upon one another in large
cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe .
The democracy will cease to exist when you
take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
It is incumbent on
every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on
would save one-half the wars of the world.
I predict future happiness
for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the
people under the pretense of taking care of them.
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much
government.
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear
arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in
government.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood
of patriots and tyrants.
To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which
he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our
liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private
banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then
by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will
deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the
continent their fathers conquered.'
Eastern