Echoes

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.

But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.

The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free.

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.

Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.

…And that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.

We must know what we think and speak out, even at the risk of unpopularity. In the final analysis, a democratic government represents the sum total of the courage and the integrity of its individuals. It cannot be better than they are. … In the long run there is no more exhilarating experience than to determine one's position, state it bravely and then act boldly.

Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist. But if unlimited or unbalanced power of disposing property, be put into the hands of those who have no property, France will find, as we have found, the lamb committed to the custody of the wolf. In such a case, all the pathetic exhortations and addresses of the national assembly to the people, to respect property, will be regarded no more than the warbles of the songsters of the forest. The great art of law-giving consists in balancing the poor against the rich in the legislature, and in constituting the legislative a perfect balance against the executive power, at the same time that no individual or party can become its rival. The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries. The executive and the legislative powers are natural rivals; and if each has not an effectual control over the other, the weaker will ever be the lamb in the paws of the wolf. The nation which will not adopt an equilibrium of power must adopt a despotism. There is no other alternative. Rivalries must be controlled, or they will throw all things into confusion; and there is nothing but despotism or a balance of power which can control them.

Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.

Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.

The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition, when suffered to exert itself with freedom and security is so powerful a principle that it is alone, and without any assistance, not only capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting a hundred impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often incumbers its operations; though the effect of these obstructions is always more or less either to encroach upon its freedom, or to diminish its security.

It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty persons than to put a single innocent one to death.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

Do not let anyone else run your business.

A republic, if you can keep it.

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.

Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, They may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty. They will only exchange Tyrants and Tyrannies.

He who is brave is free.

Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.

There is a limit to the time assigned you, and if you don't use it to free yourself it will be gone and never return.

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.