Wisdom From A Founding Father

 “It is in the interest of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they cannot live in any country where virtue and knowledge prevail. The religion and public liberty of a people are intimately connected; their interests are interwoven; they cannot subsist separately, and therefore, they rise and fall together. For this reason, it is always observable that those who are combined to destroy the people's liberties practice every art to poison their morals."

~ Samuel Adams

We Should Be Ashamed

of ourselves, for betraying a sacred trust. Whose trust?

Samuel Adams.

An important patriot of the Revolutionary period, Samuel Adams was a vocal opponent of British rule and largely responsible for the resistance that culminated in the Boston Tea Party.

Yes, that guy.  So what did he say?

The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks - It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.

So what say ye now, patriots? Anyone? Bueller?

Quote of the Day

Reason #1,779 why the Founders were smarter than we are:

A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.

~ Samuel Adams

What Were They Thinking? (part 7)

Samuel Adams:

A general dissolution of the principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy.... While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader ... No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.

If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.

Many of the founders foresaw a time when the "general government" might get too big, too overbearing - even tyrannical - and talked about the possible cures. Many of them foresaw another conflict, although most dreaded it. Jefferson, of course, thought it might be a good thing.

Once again, they proved that they were smarter and better educated than are we.


Previous posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6