Buffman

StrictSeparationist selected two of my favorites.

Buffman

Here are three more from Jefferson with which I find considerable harmony...primarily because I am a Nature-Nurture advocate.

"The art of life is the art of avoiding pain; and he is the best pilot, who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals with which it is beset." --Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 1786. ME 5:439


Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust." --Thomas Jefferson to M. van der Kemp, 1812. ME 13:136


"I know no safe depositary of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power." --Thomas Jefferson to William C. Jarvis, 1820. ME 15:278

d'naturalist

"...to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent..." Thomas Jefferson on the reason for the Declaration of Independence, in a letter to Henry Lee, May 8, 1825.

I use this ideal as my standard whenever I attempt to write anything important. Too often, people try too hard to write things in a grandiose or "historic" style, rather than marrying eloquence to simplicity in a way that draws the reader in and makes the subject almost self-evident.

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security." Benjamin Franklin (don't know the source)

There's another quote I've heard, but I'm not sure if it's a real quote or just a funny line from the musical "1776" -- it's John Adams saying, "One useless man is a disgrace, two a law firm, and three or more a Congress".

One more...

"The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion." - Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason

'nuff said.

Copernic

"Egad, you shot me! I can't believe you actua..ly......erghuuugh"
Alexander Hamilton

Shake

These ones are all great! I've heard the Franklin one recently with respect to the encroachment of government into our civil liberties, especially the Patriot Act.