"But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever." --John Adams
"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
"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse." --James Madison
"The present Constitution is the standard to which we are to cling. Under its banners, bona fide must we combat our political foes -- rejecting all changes but through the channel itself provides for amendments." --Alexander Hamilton
"The construction applied to those parts of the Constitution of the United States which delegate Congress a power .ought not to be construed as themselves to give unlimited powers, nor a part to be so taken as to destroy the whole residue of that instrument." --Thomas Jefferson
"The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary which they may twist and shape into any form they please." --Thomas Jefferson
"National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman." --John Adams
"It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." --Samuel Adams
"To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." --George Washington
Perhaps you are familiar with a 292-page volume entitled, "Our Ageless Constitution," originally published in 1987 (Bicentennial Year of the Constitution), and recently reprinted after being out of print for over 20 years.
It contains color portraits of early Presidents, beautifully-illustrated essays on the principles and essays underlying the Constitution, as well as scholars' essays on how, over 200 years, the nation departed from the founding principles.
It also contains many documents from our history, as well as a section of "Quotable Quotes," arranged alphetically by topic. The book is available here. See the Endorsements tab for reviews, including one by President Reagan.