Favorite Quotes

Since this is MY blog, I've decided to keep some of MY favorite quotes here. It's an ongoing project.

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. -- Winston Churchill

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government. -- Thomas Jefferson

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents. -- James Madison, Father of the Constitution

It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part. -- Benjamin Franklin

I didn't say it would be easy, Neo. I just said it would be the truth. -- Morpheus

Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. -- Samuel Adams

Posterity, you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. -- John Quincy Adams

Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! -- Patrick Henry

The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. -- John Adams

The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination. -- Ronald Reagan

The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. -- Albert Einstein

When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny. -- Thomas Jefferson

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

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence. And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves. -- William J. H. Boetcker, but commonly misattributed to Abe Lincoln

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin