Posted on 09/03/2007 9:30:43 AM PDT by Loud Mime
“The only freedom deserving the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.”
—John Stuart Mill
Work as if you were to live 100 Years, Pray as if you were to die To-morrow.
Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanack, 1757)
“My policy has been, and will continue to be, while I have the honor to remain in the administration of the government, to be upon friendly terms with, but independent of, all the nations of the earth. To share in the broils of none. To fulfil our own engagements. To supply the wants, and be carriers for them all: Being thoroughly convinced that it is our policy and interest to do so.”
-- George Washington (letter to Gouverneur Morris, 22 December 1795)
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
The Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776
Franklin’s quote is the key to consistency.
Please let me know if you would like on this ping list!
Have a wonderful Labor Day!!
That Mill quote is great.
I agree. The more I read it, the more I liked it.
It’s in my “keeper” file.
This country of ours needs to go back and listen to our founders. Granted, they lived in different times and the world was totally different then, but.........the basics of what they said, still hold true today.........if we want to listen.
We also need to teach our children about our founders and teach them in depth. The history of our country is amazing and should be taught to everyone. Why they did what they they did, why they said what they said, how did they accomplish such a task in forming this country?
Would that our public schools still taught the wise words of our founders for the past four or five decades, and if our elected took them to heart, we would not be in the pickle we now are in.
Thank you for this refreshing thread.
In terms of technology, we ARE different. But the political problems and egos were the same then as they are now.
As far as teaching our children about the founders, that’s exactly what the liberal establishment DOESN’T want. That tells you something about their intentions.
A long time ago I read a book about the egos of the Founders. They wanted to be remembered through all history for having created the greatest government ever, knowing that would be the greatest accomplishment in human history. There’s nothing wrong with that!
Sadly, the mutations of government by sophism and strange judicial manipulations have become a cancer in the framework set by the founding fathers. It may get worse before it gets better.
...and you're very welcome!
Well, thank you for that, LM. :) The song was popular when I was in high school, and I’ve always loved the Mills Brothers. How thoughtful of you to provide the link!
bump
(Chorus-sing)
God bless america again
You see all the trouble that she’s in
Wash her pretty face, dry her eyes and then
God bless america again
(verse 1-recite)
God, i sure do wish you’d bless america again
You know, the way you did back when it all began
You blessed her then, lord, but somehow we just took it for granted
And we never did ask again
So, just hold her hand, god, that’s all
And if she should stumble, please don't let her fall
(verse 2-recite)
You know i never did understand everything i read and hear about what’s
Wrong with america
But when you don’t have a lot of book learning
I guess there’s lots of things you don't understand
But let me say this, god ö she’s like a mother to me
And all i am or ever hope to be, i owe to you and to her•..
(verse 3-recite)
Some of our people have forgotten your role in america’s greatness, lord
And honesty and character don’t seem to count much with our leaders Anymore
Lord, when you were involved, america was a beacon to the world,
And with your help, she can be again.
So please god••••bless america••..again.
(tag-sing)
Wash her pretty face, dry her eyes and then
God bless america again
"On every question of construction [of the Constitution], let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invent against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." - Thomas Jefferson
"When all government, in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the Center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another and will become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated." – Thomas Jefferson
"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny." President Thomas Jefferson
The song was popular when I was in high school ....
Sheeeesh -- you must be almost as old as I am. And here I thought noone was as ancient as I am -- particularly when I first get up each AM.
Thanks Vet! You always put some great information on this thread....
....and thanks again!
Thanks for the wonderful quotes! They keep this thread alive and keep people thinking.
The last quote reminds me of something I heard on some talk show....something like “any organization that has any political element at all, will, in time, turn liberal in its philosophy unless continual weeding of non-conservative elements is undertaken.”
Hmmm....they may have put it better...
IMHO- That single sentence sums up a great deal of what America has lost over the past few generations.
----
Here's one I came across recently. (I don't think I've posted this one. If I have, my apologies in advance)
Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose—and you allow him to make war at pleasure.
~Abraham Lincoln, Letter to William Herndon Feb. 15, 1848
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Thanks for the ping, BTW!
>Sheeeesh — you must be almost as old as I am.<
Probably a good deal older, TG. Class of ‘49. What a great class that was! :)
I really have difficulty with the old quotes on invasions. Back when those were written, we didn’t have weapons that could kill hundreds of thousands in one shot, nor the delivery systems that could leap over continents and oceans in twenty minutes.
As these elements have changed, so must the rules of the game. But into what? Perhaps some day the future generations will look upon today’s wars as an example of what was right and what was wrong.
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