Friday, March 06, 2009

Thomas Jefferson said ....

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work, and give to those who are not."
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"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."
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"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."
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"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
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"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
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"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."
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"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
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"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
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In the light of the current financial crisis, its interesting to read what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
"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."
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How I wish someone would consult with Mr. Jefferson regarding America's current situations ....
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(copied from an email sent by MamaO. Thanks MamaO !)

1 comment:

Henry Cate said...

Those are some great quotes.

One of the scary things for me is how few people today really know history.