Constitution Day

Today we celebrate the signing of the Constitution of the United States, and the beginning of the greatest experiment in democracy the world had ever seen. So I would like to post some quotes from Thomas Jefferson, one of my favorites among the Founding Fathers.

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor.

He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.

I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.

I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.

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.

It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.

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.

Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.

That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.

War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.

Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.

I think the state of the country would be much improved if we had a government and society based more on these ideas. Think about what you can do to make a difference. Speak up, let your Senators and Representatives know how you feel. Too many people sit by and allow the loud minorities to control all the discussions. Time for all good people to speak up. Become a part of the government by raising your voice!